ShelburneCountyTODAY... News Archive

31dec2008: Democracy 250 project extended 15 months...  Nova Scotia Executive Council announced on its website Wednesday that the cabinet had approved an extension of the Democracy 250 project to March 31, 2010. The original expiration date was today, according to the new legislation.
    Democracy 250, according to their website was for "celebrations marking the 250^th anniversary of the birth of parliamentary democracy in Canada; a proud first for Nova Scotia." The project also promoted youth involvement in the electoral process through the D250 portion of the project, with the tag line, "Not enough Canadians are doing it."

30dec2008: Let it snow... photo essay from a snowy Shelburne >>> more 

30dec2008: No appeal for SWSDA in expense claim case... the Halifax lawyer for Frank Anderson and the South West Shore Development Authority informed Shelburne businessman Ed Cayer that the agency will not appeal the recent Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruling that determined that SWSDA was a public agency and Anderson's expense records should be made available, per Cayer's request in 2006. >>> full story

30dec2008: AbitibiBowater delisting threat from NY Stock Exchange... The company which owns the Bowater paper mill in Liverpool received notice from the New York Stock Exchange the company’s stock was below $1 on average for 30 days, which is required for staying listed, on Dec. 16. >>> more

29dec2008: Highway 103 twinning under consideration by Tories... Nova Scotia Finance Minister Michael Baker says improving safety on Highway 103 remains a priority for the provincial government.... >>> more

27dec2008: "Harper the hypocrite" tag not easy to shed...  There is a striking hypocrisy in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's recent actions, where he behaves the same as the cynical Liberals he once compared to Judas Iscariot... >>> Stephen Maher

24dec2008: EDITORIAL:  As soon as you leave  Wendy's burgers in Yarmouth and drive north along the harbour on Water Street, you can hear the sound. A low, quiet murmuring at first, then a hum, a mumble, gurgle, chatter, shout... then finally, as you approach the shiny, new offices of the South West Shore Development Authority at number 233, a cacophonous, deafening wail of mallard, merganser, pintail, teal and wigeon... quack, quack, quack, quack.    >>> full story 

24dec2008: The weather outside is frightful... more storms coming...  thousands still without power in Shelburne and Yarmouth... Nova Scotia Power has announced on their web site that continuing power outages in Shelburne and Yarmouth Counties should be restored by 11:30 pm on Christmas Eve. 26,000 customers were without service on Tuesday morning, after a storm with high winds lashed the province, causing the most damage in coastal areas.
    Environment Canada warns that rainfall amounts of 20-30 millimetres are expected tonight and Christmas morning. A low pressure system approaching from the Great Lakes will bring heavy rainfall to southwestern Nova Scotia and the pubic is advised to monitor future forecasts, especially those with travel plans for today and Christmas day.

23dec2008: New call for renewables by NSPI may spur Goodwins Island turbine project.... Schneider Power Inc has hopes to install fewer than five wind turbines on Goodwin’s Island, about a kilometer off Lower Woods Harbour, near Barrington.  The Ontario-based company, according to lawyer and CEO Jonathan Lundy, has several projects in various stages of development in Europe and North America, including ten in Canada, four in the USA and two in the Caribbean. 
     "We think we are well-situated to take advantage of the next solicitation by Nova Scotia Power for renewable energy," Lund told SCT two weeks ago. On December 19, NSPI announced it was seeking proposals for renewable energy projects using biomass and wind, including 10 megawatts from biomass and 20 wind and solar.
     Started in 1892 in Germany, by Schneider's great-great grandfather, the company has a long history of providing electrical power.  Schneider wants to develop a small-scale – fewer-than-five-turbine – wind power project on Goodwin's Island.  The company, which has owned the island since the 1990s wants to feed electricity from the turbines directly into the Nova Scotia Power grid.  

23dec2008: Village people in Yarmouth... Lorraine Hamilton's love of Christmas began with a visit from Santa years ago and now includes a yearly village-fest...  >>> more

23dec200: Traffic conditions heavy... highest ever week, month and year for SCT.... in the four years of publishing Shelburne County TODAY, the past week and month have meant milestones for the "little blog that could". Visitors flocked to this web in record numbers in December, which is on track to produce 8,000 unique visitors to the site, compared with 4,200 in 2007. Last week saw 2100 visitors and the total for the year approaching 70,000 visitors. Visitor traffic for 2007 was 50,000 visitors. The traffic at SCT gives the site substantially more visitors than all of the tourism and municipal sites in the county combined.
     We have a very loyal readership and subscription base, with some people visiting the site more than four or five times a day. Of the more frequent visitors, we count employees with the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia, South West Shore Development Authority and Nova Scotia Community College, as well as many part-time residents logging in from other parts of Canada and the USA. 
     SCT boasts regular readers from Halifax, Ottawa, Massachusetts, Florida, Ohio, California and Singapore. Last week, a government minister vacationing in Cancun, Mexico logged on to read about a possible decision for the provincial cabinet.
    As with any publication, readership increases when there is avid controversy, with stories this year about SWSDA, the battle to acquire and subsequent management of the sound stage and local government being the most popular items. In years past, the controversial sale of the Boy's School, attempts by the Shelburne Municipal Council to dramatically increase taxes, alleged sales of swamp land in Port Clyde and the ongoing saga of a ferry promoter taking the Town of Shelburne for a another ride drew the largest audiences. . 

19dec2008: Stop! Thief!... Christmas coupons stolen by Grinches from USA... in what may come to be seen as the most outlandish and bold copyright rip-off in recent times, the duo behind freebie South Shore Good Times has stolen outright and entire section of Shelburne County TODAY. In broad daylight, no less!
     Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow, recent emigres from Vermont and Pennsylvania, published on Friday last their latest version of the tripe-laden Good Times, replete with a full-page spread of ads purloined from this very web site. The ads are part of a "15 Days of Christmas Shopping" promotion designed and implemented by the local merchants, in association with the Shelburne & Area Chamber of Commerce and this web site publisher. The Chamber and SCT hold joint copyright.
     The Good Times version not only rips off the ads, but gives no credit to the Chamber of Commerce, the merchants or SCT, which has a track record of aggressively defending its copyright in all spheres. The paper suggests the ads are the works of Good Times as a "thank you" to local merchants. They also implicate the ads in a scheme to give away lobster bought from monies raised from a "naked fisherman calendar". 
     Additionally, no permissions were sought by Barstow and Kendrick from any of the merchants in the ads. A letter has been sent to the culprits demanding adequate compensation for the unlawful misappropriation and warning against further theft of copyright. 

     19dec2008: No court order, possible appeal in expense account case... On November 25 Supreme Court Justice Suzanne M. Hood published a precedent-setting opinion which said  that the South West Shore Regional Development Authority (SWSDA) is a public agency and that the CEO must make public his expense claims submitted to the agency.
     Although it is unusual for lawyers to take almost a month to agree on the language in a judge's order following a decision, this case, according to those familiar with it, has unusual aspects to it, including the possibility of an appeal by SWSDA and the wide-spread ramifications for similar organizations in Nova Scotia and Canada. The 30-day appeal period would not begin until an order is issued by Justice Hood.
     "Because the stake are so high," says an economic development expert familiar with SWSDA's operations, "they may be stalling as long as they can to decide on an appeal." According to directors present, decision by the SWSDA board to appeal or not was not made at the meeting in Yarmouth earlier this week and the next scheduled meeting is in January.
     The case surrounds a refusal by SWSDA CEO Frank Anderson to comply with an order from the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information Review Officer to release his expense claims for public review. The Right to Know Coalition joined Shelburne businessman Adelard Cayer in the lawsuit. 
     The lawyer in the case is noted Halifax litigator Robert Belliveau (Q.C.), with law firm McInnes Cooper. Belliveau submitted an affidavit this week in contempt action against Anderson, which could result in Belliveau and the firm being removed from the case. 

19dec2008: Lobster "trap" for "totally disorganized" industry... This year in Nova Scotia, export markets for lobster fishermen have collapsed and the communities that depend on the $300-million industry face economic peril. But there has been no marketing push by the industry and, from the federal government, a news release from Fisheries Minister Gail Shea promised to "work together to help coastal communities through these challenging times."  >>> more

19dec2008: Yarmouth Mariner owners pony up $80k to keep MJHL team afloat... Saying the team should be able to "pull through the season," board president Raymond Jaquard said that ticket sales and sponsorships have lagged behind projections and that Wednesday, owners committed to a $80,000 infusion into the team from their personal finances.  Earlier in the year, Jaquard admitted to some "bumps" in the operation of the team, but appeared hopeful. The deficit was reported in September to be $50,000. Jaquard and other local businessmen bought the team one year ago.

19dec2008: Education minister Casey says 30% improvement in math scores proves adequate funding for Tri-County schools.... At a press conference Thursday announcing the newest provincial math scores, education minister Karen Casey said that the substantial improvement by local third-graders in math scores in the crucial province-wide tests means that, "Teachers have been able to work with the funds they have," that that, with the support provided by the department, "student achievement has improved." 
     The percentage of Tri-County students who met or exceeded expectations on the tests increased from 52.7% in 2006-2007 to 69.5% in 2007-2008, an improvement of greater than 30%.

18dec2008: Town of Shelburne ranks highest on accident list... the Workers Compensation Board released its list of employers penalized for having safety records at least three times worse than their industry average and the Town of Shelburne's municipal operations, construction & maintenance division is listed with New Glasgow and Spring Hill from among more than 100 towns in Nova Scotia.
     Area businesses also ranked on the top three offenders include Clearwater Seafoods, Kenny & Ross, Comeau Seafoods, Atlantic Composites and Mersey Seafoods. The WCB fought a lengthy, but losing, court battle to keep the records private. 
     The clerk and mayor of Shelburne declined to speak on the record for this story.

17dec2008: Cabinet to meet on SWSDA request to discount film studio loan... even though South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA) announced recently they had approval from government to discount the loans outstanding on the film studio/sound stage property sold recently to two Americans, the Department of Economic Development says the decision must go to cabinet and that the decision will be made soon. Cabinet meets again on Thursday.  >>> full story

17dec2008: Desperate measures for lobster fishermen... Lobster fishermen struggling to make a buck have taken to peddling their catch in shopping mall parking lots and over the Internet... lobster fishermen who cannot or will not sell their catch at depressed prices to buyers are now using an online classified web site to sell lobsters direct to consumers.
    Halifax-based Kijiji has more than 70 ads for lobster and eight in the last 24 hours >>> more from the Herald

17dec2008: Fishing crisis must be dealt with by minister, says Belliveau...  Shelburne County MLA Sterling Belliveau has written to federal fisheries minister Gail Shea asking her to convene a meeting as soon as possible with industry organizations, provincial fisheries ministers and opposition critics.  
     According to a news release from the NDP caucus, Belliveau is supporting a letter sent by 20,000 independent fishermen to Shea.  The letter calls for pre-budget meetings between government and fishermen to deal with the recession-related crisis in the industry.
    While Belliveau called for a pan-industry meeting, Maritime fisheries ministers met with Shea in Halifax on Tuesday, to discuss the industry, market challenges and future co-operation in marketing.  "We realize that we all must work together to see the industry through these difficult economic times," said Nova Scotia fisheries & aquaculture minister Ron Chisholm, in a news release. Chisholm was joined by Rick Doucet, New Brunswick minister of fisheries, and Allan Campbell, minister of fisheries, aquaculture and rural development for Prince Edward Island.

16dec2008: Lockeport Loop gets funding from feds and province... ACOA will invest over $63,000 and the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development $10,000 in the waterfront development and branding of the Lockeport Loop area, according to an announcement in Lockeport Monday by MP Gerald Keddy, representing ACOA minister Keith Ashfield.
    Funding for the project will support the construction of historic look-out and visitor information kiosks, extending the harbour-front boardwalk, developing interpretive and directional signage, and creating heritage murals. The project, according to the release,  will build on Lockeport’s existing assets including the famous Crescent Beach, downtown farmers’ market and boardwalk area.
     "We are doubly pleased about being able to do these projects," Lockeport mayor Darian Huskilson told SCT," because they will not only serve to enhance the town for visitors, but will also make it a much nicer place for our residents."

15dec2008: Long Boat Society now secret, private club?... after producing a full season of varied events to celebrate local history, the Loyalist Landing Society, in order to protect its most prominent asset, has morphed recently into the Shelburne Long Boat Society.
     Recently, requests from several local folks to attend Society meetings to find out more about the boats and their expected use in the area have been told that meeting times and places are secret and not for public knowledge.
     The $50,000 boats were also prominent in the Shelburne Christmas Parade, where they were filled with icy snow after being stored in the open air for some months. "Those boats will go bad faster than a rotting apple," said a seasoned boat builder who watched the parade. "You never fill your boat with snow and ice."
    The boats are scheduled for inclusion in the Tall Ships Halifax events in July during the  same weekend planned for Shelburne Founder's Days. 

12dec2008: Team Shelburne ends hiatus, nixes amalgamation talks and approves request for "disappeared" monies for Lockeport tourism... after missing four mandated meetings, Team Shelburne convened on December 9 to discuss a variety of issues, including amalgamation, cooperation, physician recruitment and tourism.
     The group, comprised of members of area councils, plus reps from the chamber and SWSDA, declined a suggestion to have representatives from the Region Queens meet to discuss amalgamation, despite growing interest among the public in the issue.
     The Town of Lockeport request for funds from the sale of the Boy's School (now Bowood) to pay its $10,000 share for a five-year tourism plan was approved unanimously. The funds are part of the $600,000-plus which the CEO testified under oath last December had already been spent within days of being deposited in SWSDA accounts.
     SWSDA rep Joan Bower advised the group that SWSDA required that the proposed tourism manager for the county would be housed in the agency's offices and would have to operate under SWSDA "administrative" rules. She also said that SWSDA would carry the municipal units' payments as receivables. Lockeport has committed to its full assessment for the project, while the Town of Shelburne pledged 50% of its $50,000 cost share. Clarks Harbour has declined to participate. The Municipality of Barrington has committed to a five-year total of $75,000. The Municipality of Shelburne has agreed in principal to support a $75,000 commitment.
     Discussion ensued about the changing role of Team Shelburne, including not necessarily following the purposes set forth in its terms of reference. A need was expressed for a body to be put in place in the county for economic development initiatives. (reports in part from meeting minutes)

12dec2008: No permission to discount mortgage or sell fences and furniture at former film studio, says government... the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development has disputed recent claims made by the CEO of South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA) that there is an agreement to discount the $1.75 million mortgage held on the Canadian Forces base at Sandy Point. The property, valued at $30 million in the 1990's and, according to SWSDA, $18 million in 2005,  was on the market in 2006 for $5 million and was sold for $2.75 million early this year to a Vermont-based couple who have opened several businesses there, including a drive-in movie and pitch-and-putt golf course.  >>> full story

8dec2008: Sea Coast film duo seek surprising $40,000, short-term profit from "flipping" historic district home... just weeks after purchasing the former Muir home adjacent to the Sea Dog Saloon at George and Dock Street, self-described American investors and film makers Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow have put the property on the market for $139,000, a 70% increase from the original price.
    Just days after buying the house for a reported $89,000, Mary Barstow called a local businessman known for real estate investments and offered the property to him for a substantial increase in price. "I don't think so," the investor reportedly told Barstow.
    One real estate agent familiar with the property and the local market said that, although there is nothing wrong with increasing selling prices substantially in a short period, the likelihood of a sale at that price in winter is "remote."  "I got the sense that they were in the business of flipping properties," said the investor.
     The property is prominently advertised in the duo's freebie news tabloid, saying the offering price of $139,000 is "surprising", which seems also to be the general consensus among real estate professionals. see ad here
     SeaCoast Entertainment arts bills itself as a multi-faceted communications firm with extensive experience in the USA in multi-media production, artist management, web design, recording, TV production, book publishing, music distribution, concert promotion, advertising and screenwriting. Their first video productions can be seen here and here .  The motto for the firm, according to their web site is "No one ever died or went broke from talking."
     At the Shelburne facility in Sandy Point, the pair have registered several additional companies with the province, including Seacoast Film Production Studios (TV & film), Sea Punt Putt (mini-golf), Sea Song Inn (hotel), SeaCoast Store, Sea View Drive-in, Alice's Seacoast Restaurant and Sea Sounds (recording).  The Maritime Candles operation, which Barstow says is selling candles throughout North America and has a current fundraising deal with Hillcrest Academy, is not registered with the province. 
      Barstow reported recently that a film production announcement was imminent and Kendrick announced that he would begin production soon on a documentary about the lobster fishery in the region.
     According to former employees, the operations at the former military base have come to a virtual standstill, with employees being offered profit sharing in lieu of salary. In his most recent editorial in South Shore Good Times, Kendrick complains that "I haven’t worked in a year. And now that I think of it, I haven’t earned a penny since I’ve been here among all you cheap Nova Scotians."

8dec2008: Ignatieff makes move to oust Dion in wake of failed coalition bid... Toronto MP Michael Ignatieff launched a bulldozer charge at the federal Liberal leadership on Sunday, campaigning for the party's parliamentary caucus to elect him immediately as an interim replacement for Stéphane Dion.  >>> Globe & Mail  >>> The Herald 

8dec2008: 15 days to "Shop in Shelburne" launched by Chamber... a group of Shelburne merchants aided by the Shelburne and Area Chamber of Commerce, have launched a "15 Days of Christmas (shopping)" program, with a 45-page coupon book as the central theme.
     The coupons, according to one of the project coordinators, will afford shoppers hundred of dollars in values at area stores and businesses. "We knew that we had to come up with something unique,” said Elizabeth Rhuland, a committee member who has helped develop the local holiday promotions for the past three years. “There is some worry in the retail community, but also a growing awareness that a program to promote local shopping can pay off for the retail community."
     The free coupon books will be mailed directly to some area residents and will be available at participating businesses and online at Shop Shelburne County. 

8dec2008: Hatfield to run again in Barrington district 5... Supreme Court justice Patrick Duncan ruled on Thursday that, even though Shaun Hatfield inadvertently missed resigning from his role as chair of the continuing care steering committee, he was ineligible to run as councilor in the October election.
     The law allows a 30-day timeline for an appeal in the matter, so a by-election might be called for Feb 28, with nomination date on Feb 3. and Hatfield told SCT he would offer. If no other candidate files, Hatfield would be elected by acclaimation and would be sworn in at the Feb. 9 council meeting.  

8dec2008: Pols support fishing wives at Yarmouth rally... sporting a Nova Scotia tartan-emblazoned jacket, Shelburne MLA Sterling Belliveau described wives of fishermen as the "pit crew" in the economic engine of the region.
     More than four dozen supporters heard the Belliveau, MLA Chris D'Entremont and MP Greg Kerr address the issues surrounding the lowest lobster price in years and the economic consequences which might ensue. Lobster is selling at $3.00 per pound, which is 60% of last years price.

7dec2008: Barrington Christmas Parade of Lights pleases crowds... hundreds of people braved some cold weather and wind and lined Highway 103 in Barrington Saturday night to watch dozens of colourful floats and other entries in one of the best annual holiday events on the South Shore (download photo collage HERE)

5dec2008: Rural property owners suffer another blow from MacDonald government... This fall, about 40,000 Nova Scotian households received some very bad news about the “Your Energy Rebate” program.  These households discovered that they were no longer able to receive the 8% provincial sales tax rebate on their heating fuel automatically.  They must pay the full HST and then apply for a rebate for the provincial portion. Editorial by Liberal leader Stephen McNeil >>> full story

4dec2008: No contrition from Harper in speech... "no backroom deal with separatists",,,  "inadequate speech", says CTV... Harper set to resign if Governor General Jean does not agree to terminate Parliament...PM calls for crisis talks with Premiers... conservative staffers join Rideau Hall protests... Harper ends 6 min address with no new information. "Nothing on the prorogation, nothing on a new election, repeating what he's said in the House about a budget on Jan. 27," says CTV.

3dec2008: Lobster fishermen to get back in boats.... after a two-hour meeting in Yarmouth, lobster fishermen in Area 34 have decided to end their work stoppage and put their boats and crews back in the water.
     Ashton Spinney, chairman of the management board for LFA34, says that the fishermen recognize that, despite the possibility they will fish for little of no profit, most agreed that stopping the landings would harm the entire ecomomy in the region. The last strike in the fishery was 17 years ago, when prices sank to $2.50 per pound.

3dec2008: Chisholm says he has agreement from Ottawa on stacking rules for lobster licenses... Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Ron Chisholm met with federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea on Monday in Ottawa to discuss the challenges facing the fishing industry in Nova Scotia, especially the lobster fishery.
     The meeting, according to a news release and a department spokesperson, was held to discuss federal fisheries management plans and policies and to look at ways to work together to achieve sustainable management and economic success.
     The two ministers talked about the current situation with the lobster industry. Recent downturns in the global economy have contributed to fewer sales of lobster and lower prices for the fishermen.
     "Ms. Shea is aware of the serious issues facing the lobster industry in southwest Nova Scotia and she has agreed to have her staff work with provincial officials to explore options that I have put forward," said Mr. Chisholm.
     The department says that Ms. Shea agreed to limit two licenses to a boat and agreed to allow the "unstacking" of licenses at a later date. They say she refused to comment on request to consider forgiving the $1800 lobster license fee in 2009, but agreed to instruct her staff to meet with provincial staff and banking industry representatives toward finding some relief for boat owners whose loans might be in jeopardy as a result of the turbulent economy.
     Many fishermen owe hundreds of thousands of dollars to banks and government loan boards and fear their debts will sink them. In the Nova Scotia legislature last month, minister Chisholm said government is willing to wait for loan payments if it has to.
    "If fishermen are having some difficult times, they can defer loan payments and they can defer interest," Mr. Chisholm said during an emergency debate on the lobster crisis. The department spokesman said on Tuesday that "this would be on a case-by-case basis."

2dec2008: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa coming to Shelburne's Capitol Theatre Dec 4, 5 & 6.  >>> more

2dec2008: Keep the lobster boats tied up, says Clearwater CEO... Colin MacDonald, whose company buys eight million pounds of lobster a year, said Clearwater has already bought enough to meet Christmas sales and predicted the demand over the winter months ``will be virtually non-existent.''  With buyers paying less than $3.50 per pound, lobster sells on the Clearwater web site for more than $16.00 a pound. Ashton Spinney, chairman of the management board for LFA34, says that fishermen need $4.50 to $5.00 per pound to break even.
     ``Maybe it's a good idea that fishermen stay tied up and go back fishing in the spring,'' MacDonald said in a Chronicle Herald story... >>> more

1dec2008: Lobster trucking blockade at Digby ferry... Lobster fishermen coalesced on the streets of Digby Monday and some blocked the way of trucks carrying lobsters to the USA via the Digby-St John ferry. Frustrated lobster fishermen managed to keep two tractor trailers carrying live Nova Scotia lobster from catching an important ferry run Monday at Digby. Both trucks, from Yarmouth County were held up by fishermen who demanded to see their manifests. Saying the fisheries representatives did not condone the Digby action, Ashton Spinney, a longtime fisherman and chairman of the management board for lobster fishing Area 34 said that a mid-afternoon telephone conference was truncated midway, after being contacted by DFO. >>> more
     "We will be meeting face-to-face this evening", said Spinney, "and we'll see where we go from there."  MLA Harold Theriault was at the ferry, as were his two fishermen sons  >>> more

1dec2008: Worst crisis since cod collapse, says Belliveau...  NDP fisheries critic and Shelburne County MLA Sterling Belliveau told SCT today that he has called for the MacDonald government to send an all-party committee, along with representatives from the fishing industry, to Ottawa to meet with the federal Minister of Fisheries to seek a resolution to the roiling crisis in the Southwest Nova Scotia lobster fishery.. 
     “Fishermen can’t survive with the price of lobster half what it was last year,” says Belliveau. “The recession is here, and it’s hit Southwest Nova Scotia hard. This could be a $150 million loss to our industry. We need a plan immediately to deal with this crisis in the lobster fishery.”
     “This lobster crisis is as serious as the groundfish crisis was in the 90's, only this time the problem is prices, not supply,” says Belliveau. “Without some supports, we won’t have a lobster fishery when prices do recover.”
     The largest lobster fishery in the world has been stung with rock-bottom prices in the first week of the season, with buyers offering a maximum of $3.50 per pound, less than 60% of prices in some recent years. Almost 1000 boats and 3,000 captains and crew depend upon the fishery for all of some of their yearly income. 
     "I am extremely worried that this price collapse in the fishery might result in hundreds of our young people heading out to the better economic climate offered out west," said Belliveau.
     Earlier in the day, liberal fisheries critic Harold (Junior) Theriault said that he was ready to leave immediately for Ottawa with Belliveau in order to meet with officials. “This disaster has been on the horizon for some time now,”
explained Theriault in a news release. “Nearly two weeks have passed since the emergency debate on the matter and we’ve heard absolutely nothing from the provincial government,” states Theriault. “The entire lobster industry and our coastal communities are now in turmoil.”  

1dec2008: Bowater employees "shocked" at layoffs...Courtney Wentzell, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Local 141 President, was as shocked today (Dec. 1) as anyone to learn AbitibiBowater Inc. is shutting down the “profitable” Bowater Mersey Paper Company Ltd. mill in Brooklyn for five weeks.
     With union negotiations due soon, Wentzell mused to The Advance that he thought it "interesting" that only union employees werebeing laid off at the the "one bright, shiny plant" in the Abitibi chain.  >>> more

1dec2008: Port readiness workshop coming... Representatives from the five municipal units in Shelburne County are being invited to a workshop, which will provide information on attracting cruise ships  >>> more

1dec2008: Done deal... Dion's it!... Liberals question Conservative competence to lead... The main Liberal leadership contenders agreed unanimously that Stephane Dion should serve as interim prime minister in what appears to be a coming coalition government... >>> more    >>> Globe & Mail

1dec2008:  Tourism dept aims to hold its ground... Nova Scotia's tourism industry aims to hold its ground in challenging economic times, according to Tourism, Culture and Heritage Minister Bill Dooks. The province presented 2009 plans for marketing and product development today at the annual tourism industry conference in Halifax.
     Plans include teaming up with partners for a promotion in London, England.
There will be a new national advertising campaign in Canada and more promotion of Nova Scotia to the other Maritime provinces since more people are vacationing closer to home in the current economic environment. 
     Dooks said Nova Scotia did well to achieve the same revenue this year as it did in 2007, despite a slight decrease in visitors. He said the province continues to roll out its strategic plan. >>> more

1dec2008: Lobster strike!!... Lobster strike!!...  Boats are tying up and the VHS is abuzz this morning with talk of a lobster fishing strike in Southwest Nova.
     After a week of lobster fishing and the prospect of getting only $3.25 a pound for their catch, fishermen returned to their ports Monday morning – or never left them in the first place – and are reportedly on strike.
     Wayne Spinney, area 34 rep, says that, with the cost of doing business and the price of lobster, he may well be out of business by next year. "We should never have set the traps this year," says Spinney.   >>> more

Telephone coverence... Ashton Spinney, another area 34 rep told SCT that the length of the work stoppage may be more clear after a conference call at 2pm today with all of the area fishing reps. 

Ferry blockade?... A source who did not want to be named said that word is circulating that there may be a blockade of the 3pm ferry from Digby to St John.

The last strike in the fishery was 17 years ago.

1dec2008: Deal cut to bring down Tories...  

• The Liberals and NDP have reached a deal to bring down the federal Conservative government and form an unprecedented coalition to take its place that would last 30 months and include cabinet seats for both parties. >>> more

• Party in disarray.. Conservative MPs, plus plenty of rank-and-file Conservatives, are angry and confused about the mess their government created in the past few days. >>> more

• Absence of leadership... Globe & Mail editorial... Public confidence that Stephen Harper can be anything other than a default leader has been badly shaken by the events of the past few days.   >>> more

• "We saw the real face of the Conservatives this week: doctrinaire, ideological, trying to please their Reform base. That's the game."

1dec2008: Low prices, high costs worry fishermen... In these tough times, the lobster fishery is taking a direct hit. With an unreliable marketplace for high-end seafood in the United States and Europe, fishermen are bracing for incomes half of what they’re used to pulling in. >>> more

28nov2008:   New Nurse Practitioner for Shelburne County ... South West Health announced recently that nurse practitioner Deana Hickey will provide primary health care services to residents of Shelburne County effective immediately. Ms. Hickey will work two days each in Barrington and Shelburne and one day in Lockeport.  Clinic hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. and appointments are made by calling 902-875-2321. 

28nov2008: Stalled security legislation slows Bowood plans for Shelburne training... legislation requiring minimal training for all security personnel in the province was rushed into the last days of the fall session then suddenly pulled prior to closing on Monday. The lack of legislation may not produce many security training recruits in the spring session, including those planned for Bowood (formerly Shelburne Boy's School), a facility owned by the Macdonnell Group. The training would be delivered by MacDonnell staffers through the new business relationship between the MacDonnell Group and the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC).
     Signed less than a week ago, the MOU binds the two entities to pursue mutually rewarding projects in Nova Scotia and on the international scene, according to NSCC dean of business development, Ken Jones. The MOU has MacDonnell providing training through NSCC in Shelburne and four other campuses, plus options for international contracts. "We have done work internationally and we have a new project to provide offshore oil technology skills in Saudi Arabia," said Jones.
     Macdonnell Group has a marine security division and also has a relationship with the Newfoundland-based trade school, College of the North Atlantic, which has a training facility in Quatar.
     Private members Bill 88 was introduced in 2007 by Liberal Diana Whalen and lanquished while justice department staffers worked at putting a government version of a security bill forward after lengthy industry consultations. Bill 88 was put forward for second reading on November 21 with little notice to Whalen and was scheduled to be heard in the law and amendments committee, but the fall session ended on Monday without a hearing.
     Stephen Antle of the MacDonnell Group said that his firm had seen a draft of the proposed legislation being developed by the justice department, but Whalen told SCT she was never offered a view of the draft, despite being the author of the original bill. Antle said that his firm was not advised of the introduction of Bill 88.
     Other industry stakeholders were also in the dark about the government's decision to abandon its proposed draft and revert to Whalen's 2007 bill. Don Budden, with the Canadian Security Association and Canadian Society for Indutrial Security, said that provincial stakeholders formed the Security and Investigation Alliance in 2007 to provide a central voice to government about industry concerns. Budden says that neither he nor the alliance was informed of Bill 88 coming before the legislature.
   Damian Stoliov, MacDonnell vice president of business development told The Coast Guard that they had instructors and facilities ready to go in the event of the legislation passing. With the likelihood of a spring election and possible new government, there is no guarantee that security training will be required at Bowood or anywhere else in the province before 2010.

28nov2008: Info freedom lawsuit milestone for democracy in Nova Scotia, says Coalition head... Arm’s-length government agencies cannot prevent the public from prying into their business by claiming to be exempt from freedom of information laws, Nova Scotia Supreme Court decided this week. (see story)
     The ruling involved the South West Shore Development Authority and CEO Frank Anderson, who refused to divulge his expense records. "If they’re using our money, we have a right to find enough information from them to decide whether or not they’re doing what we want them to do," Darce Fardy, founder of the Right to Know Coalition, told The Herald. >>> more 

27nov2008: Rousing start to Basketball Tourney... Shelburne boys win close one and girls slam Lockeport... the 2009 Senior High Basketball Classic at Shelburne Regional High School got off to a rousing start with a lopsided girls win and close boys victory over rival Lockport High teams on Thursday night.
     The Shelburne girl Rebels won handily 59 to 30, with three Shelburne girls sharing high point scores of eight points and two Lockeport players scoring seven. Paula Christie of Shelburne was a standout and appeared to be the most natural athlete on the floor the entire evening. 
     In a slow-starting game, the Shelburne boys overcame deficits in the first three quarters to win 72/69 at the finish. Brendan Pippy was player of the game for Shelburne and the intense and energetic Ethan Harlow took the honours for Lockeport.
     The Classic continues Friday with four games beginning at 2:30pm and Saturday, with six games beginning at 9:00am.  (see schedule here)

27nov2008: Election and coalition talk after Flaherty's update... The Canadian economy has slipped into recession and the federal coffers are on the verge of running dry for the first time in 13 years, the finance minister Jim Flaherty said on Thursday in a report that raised the prospect of an early election.
     "No free ride," as Tories pull plug on political party funding, which critics say is aimed at bankrupting opposition. The savings of this controversial cutback would be 1/100 of one percent of the federal budget. "This is no way to govern when you're on the edge of Niagara Falls. So go back and think about it again," said Michael Ignatieff. >>> more

27nov2008: Roseway Emerg closed five days in December... Southwest Health has announced that Roseway Hospital Emergency Department will be closed from 8:00am to 8:00pm on December 4, 5, 11, 19 & 29 

27nov2008: SWSDA chief claims Herald news embargo in court case... in a presentation at the Oct 18 board meeting of the South West Shore Development Authority, CEO Frank Anderson told board members that he had forged an agreement with a senior editor at the Halifax Chronicle Herald for the paper to embargo any stories about the current lawsuit against SWSDA and Anderson for contempt of court. 
     Anderson told his board that The Herald ran a story in contravention of the agreement. The Supreme Court trial date surrounding Anderson's refusal to obey a court order regarding funds from the sale of the former military base (now Sea Coast Film Studios) is set in Yarmouth for December 18.  

27nov2008: Failing democracy 101... what was the government doing as people worried about the impact of an unprecedented global credit crunch, as public finances deteriorated, the Canadian economy went into recession, the OECD predicted rising unemployment, and snow and cars piled up on the Cobequid Pass? >>> more 

27nov2008:   eBay fraud revisits the South Shore... a Liverpool man pleads guilty to eBay friad for selling phony coins. Richard Allen Mansard sold "garbage" coins for $4500 to US buyer.  >>> more  
     In 2007, an Antigonish couple, Kevin and Carmen Blinn, were sued by a US couple for alleged fraud in an eBay land sales scheme.  >>> more Carmen Blinn and her Nova Scotia Land Sales company are also named in a separate lawsuit charging them with defamation. In January, Blinn and company lost a bid for a summary judgment and in August they lost am appeals court judgment in a contempt application.
     Blinn and her attorneys failed to appear at an Oct 31 court hearing in Yarmouth and are scheduled to appear in Supreme Court in Yarmouth on Dec 4 on an application to to expain why they  , and numbered 

25nov2008: Lobster boat down... The first day of what was already shaping up to be a bad lobster fishing season was also the last for Fundy Secrets, owned by Acadia First Nations. The vessel sank yesterday morning on its first trip out to drop its traps, but after all four crew members aboard were rescued.

25nov2008: 200,000 sq ft oil spill from Irving barge onto lobster grounds... On the first day of the fall season for Atlantic Canada's biggest and most lucrative lobster fishery, federal officials warned Nova Scotia fishermen to stay away from an area where a dredging barge carrying 70,000 litres of diesel sank in rough seas on the weekend. >>> more

25nov  Tories quaver on Fast track for federal infrastructure spending??... Ottawa is considering a multibillion-dollar economic stimulus package before the next federal budget in an effort to ensure Canada's response to the unfolding global economic crisis does not lag behind the United States and other countries, government sources say.  >>> more  Economists, however, warned against postponing urgently needed action. >>> more

24nov2008:  Lobster fishery a go!!... The lobster fishery off southwestern Nova Scotia will opened on Monday, Nov. 24. After meeting with lobster buyers on Wednesday afternoon it was decided there would be no monetary advantage for fishermen to delay the season by one week.   >>> more

21nov2008: Developer moves Digby turbines... Scotian Windfields and Skypower have already revamped the map that was released at the municipality’s council meeting on Nov. 10—showing the proposed locations of 20 wind turbines on Digby Neck.
     The new version shows the turbines originally planned for Red Head re-situated north of Highway 217.   >>> more   

18nov2008: $100 million loss looming for lobster fishery??...  With the lowest prices in the US and Canada in almost 20 years, worries are growing on both sides of the border over what is going to happen when the southwestern Nova Scotia lobster fishery opens next week. 
    One question on the minds of many in the USA is "will the Canadians hold back rather than start shipping right in at a low price?” ...  >>> more 

18nov2008: $3.75 million for seafood industry renewal from government... the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, in partnership with the Department of Economic Development, will invest $3.75 million in the Nova Scotia seafood industry over the next three years... >>> more

18nov2008: Lost Mariners book launch on Nov 25... the third volume of Lost Mariners of Shelburne County will be launched at Wesley United Church in Barrington on Nov. 25... >>> more

18nov2008: Norman new deputy mayor in Queens... Region of Queens Councilor Darlene Norman is now Deputy Mayor. After eight years, the long-time councillor felt ready to take on the extra responsibilities. >>> more 

17nov2008: Worried area 34 lobster fishermen mulling options... ban on Sunday lobster fishing; fewer traps in the water; splitting the season; and delaying the start of fishing to Dec. 1...   
     Lobster fishermen in southwestern Nova Scotia are worried that American and European consumers won’t keep shelling out for lobster. ... >>> more

17nov2008: Food collection part of Shelburne Christmas parade Saturday... >>> More

17nov2008: Something fishy in the barrel?... Who knew what and when in Barrington council election challenge?... the Barrington Municipal Council election for District 5 won by civic activist Shaun Hatfield is heading for a court challenge and some of the players involved are refusing to speak about their roles in the matter. 
     Clerk/treasurer Brian Holland told The Coast Guard that "there were some people in authority who were aware of the problem with Hatfield’s candidacy" before the election and he told SCT that he discussed the matter with solicitor Donald Harding and with department of municipal affairs consultant Paul Wills. 
    Wills has thus far declined to discuss the matter and returning officer Cathy Clark would only say "no comment" when contacted by SCT about her role in the matter. Section 44(5) of the Municipal Government Act says that a Returning Officer "shall not accept the nomination of a person who is not qualified under this Act to be elected". 
      A by-election could cost upwards of $2500. There may be nothing amiss in this situation, but experience shows that when public officials clam up tighter than a steel drum, often there's something fishy in the barrel.   >>> Herald story

14nov2008: Online candle promo for Hillcrest... a local company has announced a two-week promotion to raise funds for student programs at Hillcrest Academy. Scented candles can be ordered online on the web site of Maritime Candle. In April of this year, Maritime Candle company co-owner Jim Kendrick told the Chronicle Herald that the firm would be producing 20,000 high-end candles per day.

14nov2008: New mayor, deputy, council structure as "Mooney era" begins in Yarmouth...Yarmouth town council wasted little time getting down to business — both new and old — last night at its first regular meeting since the Oct. 18 municipal elections. >>> more

14nov2008: Digby wind farm schedules public meetings on proposed project...  >>> more

12nov2008: Lobster stacking infuriates fishers and MLA... DFO are "liars" says fisheries area exec...  Digby-Annapolis MLA Harold (Junior) Theriault told a Halifax news conference Wednesday that the new "license stacking" provisions announced by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) are going to be very bad for business. "There’s a lot of people out there that would like to have it all if they could get it. I believe the department will play into their hand to give it to them." 
     Shelburne County MLA Sterling Belliveau told SCT, "the policies developed in Ottawa for the fisheries are often wrong for this region and continue to have damaging effects." Additionally, says Belliveau, the Nova Scotia minister of fisheries does not appear to be supporting the local fishermen. >>> more

12nov2008: Christmas Crawl returns to Shelburne on Saturday... as part of a "Shop in Shelburne County" initiative, several merchants in Shelburne's Historic District will reprise their Christmas Crawl event for its seventh year, this time opting for a Saturday filled with a shopping passport, special treats, great gifts and day's end draw for a bountious basket brimming with goodies. >>> see poster here

11nov208: Shelburne remembers... more than 400 people filled the Community Centre on Tuesday to join in honouring and remembering  Canadian service personnel who have served and fallen during war and peacetime.
     Overseen by the members and officers of the Shelburne Royal Canadian Legion Branch 63, joined by serving RCMP and air and sea cadets, the service included two minutes of silence and the laying of wreaths on the indoor cenotaph constructed in the hall.

11nov2008: Muni council settles in with new members... the council meetings for the Shelburne Municipality are a far cry from many of those from years past. Gone are the outbursts, infighting, meandering and unfocused discussions which seemed a hallmark with the previous council, warden and CAO. >>> more

11nov2008: Former South Shore candidate now heads Christian Heritage Party... Jim Hnatiuk, 58, from Enfield, Nova Scotia, was elected leader of the Christian Heritage Party at its leadership convention in London, Ontario on Monday. The new leader, who runs a gun and hunting shop in Enfield, wants to abolish the federal Indian Act, views abortion as "the brutal death and dismemberment of the weakest members of our society" and plans to use his military background to aggressively recruit others to speak with "one Christian political voice."
    The CHP is one of the smallest-ever political parties in Canada. Hnatiuk captured 1% of the vote in his recent bid as MP  for West Hants and he got 3% of the vote in 2006 in his race against Gerald Keddy in South Shore-St. Margarets.

10nov2008: Barrington council election challenged on $25 stipend to community organizer...  officials knew of infraction prior to election.... the Barrington Municipal Council held an emergency meeting Thursday night to discuss the possibility of having the election of Sean Hatfield in District 5 voided and a by-election called. Clerk/treasurer Brian Holland told The Coast Guard that "there were some people in authority who were aware of the problem with Hatfield’s candidacy" well before the election.
    After receiving a letter from lawyer and District 4 candidate Clyde Nickerson requesting an investigation into Hatfield's status as a qualified candidate, council became aware that Hatfield's role of chairman of the Continuing Care Committee - for which he was entitled to a $25 stipend for each meeting - made him a municipal employee and disqualified to run for council. Hatfield bested encumbent Larry Stewart and another challenger in the October 18 election.
     Council voted to have solicitor Don Harding refer the matter to the Supreme Court in Yarmouth, where it is scheduled to be heard on December 4. Hatfield could be sworn in on Monday, but could also be subject to a $500 per day penalty if he were to be found by the court in violation of the elections act. It is likely that Hatfield will await the court's decision before sitting on council.
     The judge could rule that there needs to be a by-election for District five or could rule that the infraction is inconsequential to a fair election. Hatfield is credited by many to be one of the driving forces behind the Tory commitment to build the additional 40 beds at Bayside Home in Barrington. >>> more

10nov2008: Bishop's Cellar and WineOnline team up to deliver a wide selection of international wines to rural Nova Scotia... in an innovative approach to service an increasingly sophisticated rural consumer, Bishop's Cellar has partnered with web retailers WineOnline.ca to offer home-delivered wines in Nova Scotia.
     Bishop's Cellar business has boomed in recent years, according to owner John Stuart, and they see online sales as the next logical step in growth. "We were the most successful wine retailer in Canada last year," says Stuart, "and, despite that, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation has refused every request we have made to expand elsewhere in the province."        
     But for wine sales online, Nova Scotia may be a more welcoming environment, according to WineOnline.ca co-founder Josh Arndt. "Ordering wine online is a new concept for most wine buyers, though it is clearly catching on. I believe our Nova Scotia launch makes us Canada’s first inter-provincial online wine retailer.”
     The site, adds Stuart, will have seasonal offerings and will offer a variety of price points and vintages. A quick tour of the site showed 18 wines for under $15 and 27 priced between $25 and $50, among the varieties offered from more than 40 wineries from Canada and throughout the world. Online shoppers can sort and select by grape type, price winery or vintage. For Nova Scotia consumers, the web sales will also be available at BishopsCellars.com

10nov2008: South Shore Scholarship Fundraiser comes to Sandy Point...  When Sandy Point resident Wayne Perry died suddenly three years ago, his family thought it would be very fitting to do something in his honour which would give back to a community and region he loved dearly.      On Sunday, November 16 from 12 noon to 4:00pm , the Sandy Point Lighthouse Recreation Centre will host the Third Annual Scholarship Fundraiser. The event will include a chowder lunch, a silent auction and a craft and bake sale.  >>> more   >>> to view poster

10nov2008: First movies online from Sea Coast studios... the long-awaited videos from America film producers Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow have debuted online on YouTube and have attracted more than 150 viewers over the weekend. 
     The videos feature the Mary & Jimmy Show, in which the pair appear to provide advice to viewers.  A similar series appears in the pair's self-published newspaper column. The spots also feature Dolphin Boy, Mr. Hand and a dog called "Bite Me."  Using a peculiar brand of humour the pair takes shots at Shelburne, the deaf and "indians." Online comments say the spots are "great" and "very funny". 
     The videos appear to be the first in a series. Kendrick has also recently announced that he will also be producing and directing a feature film set in and starring  Shelburne and its residents. See the videos here: ...Video 1 ...Video 2. 

10nov2008:  Ferry fight now in final phase?...  while only 40 people showed up at the Save the Ferry rally at Cornwallis last week, local politicians insisted that the federal support to maintain the service between Digby and St. John was essential. "We need a new boat and we will have one,” said MLA Harold Therriault, while describing the incerase in both wineries and salmon farming in the area... >>> more 

10nov2008: "Minister of everything" Peter MacKay wielding more power in the region... Few may have noticed the creation of a sizable power bloc in the cabinet, built around Nova Scotia minister Peter MacKay. Last month’s election made MacKay Atlantic Canada’s Minister of Everything and the most powerful federal politician in the region since Allan MacEachen... >>> more

7nov2008: Conrad wants Queens Co. roads mowed... >>> more

7nov2008: Lobster license stacking infuriating to fishermen... Lobster fishermen in southwestern Nova Scotia weren’t just angry, they were infuriated as they recently sat in a room and listened to DFO officials explain a policy that allows for the stacking of two licences on one boat.
 >>> more 

7nov2008: Errata and more about SeaCoast... apparently, the reported (4nov2008) fortnight of recent production at SeaCoast Film Studios was actually thrice that, plus fifty percent and led to huge increases in staffing at the site...our bad. Co-owner Mary Barstow told SCT that the "hugely positive" response to the shoot by Red Star Films of their vampire feature has led to "amazing and outrageously strong" interest in the site from other film makers.
     Barstow said that the arrival of another film shoot at Sandy Point was imminent and would boost staffing there by a large margin and that, "because they are a film studio",  staffing numbers are bound to fluctuate.  
    As for the weekly freebie news published by SeaCoast, Barstow said that, although papers were not in boxes or on porches nor on its website today, it was printed and would be out "soon."  
     The long-anticipated "Mary & Jimmy" video promoted on their web since early October was pulled just hours after posting this week and Barstow said her technician just wanted to "fix something" and it would be up again very soon. 
     Barstow also moved her candle making firm to Shelburne from the USA and re-named it Maritime Candles. She says that they are shipping candles "throughout the US and Canada" and have created a program which would provide product for schools in both countries to raise funds. Hillcrest Academy will be the first school in the program, through its Home and School group.

6nov2008: Nothing fishy about NHL hockey greats coming to Queens for fundraiser... Dimestore Fisherman TV show to combine with hockey game and golf tournament to help Queens Place... >>>more  

6nov2008: Worldwide economic crisis likely to affect NS lobster market. Economic uncertainty, downturns, bank collapses could reverberate on the local lobster industry... >>> more  Bleak season seen by DFO for lobster fisheries. With a new season set to open in three weeks, there’s more bad news than good news on the horizon... >>> more DFO should butt out, say Southwest Nova lobster fishers... >>> more 

6nov2008" Another 10% rate hike from NS Power as coal fuel costs go lower... >>> more     2010 might see even bigger rate increases as fuel adjustments kicks in... Nova Scotia Power executive pay outpaces competition by 41% ... >>> more

4nov2008: Cecil O'Donnell takes tumble.. councilor in Halifax hospital... newly minted Barrington Municipal councilor and former MLA Cecil O'Donnell apparently fell from his Clyde River roof, broke his nose and several ribs ad was airlifted to Halifax late Monday.  More as details arrive.

4nov2008: Shelburne Reenactors featured on YouTube video for Democracy 250... more than 20 Revolutionary War reenactors from Shelburne are featured in a video produced on October 2, during the Democracy 250 Celebrations at Parade Square, Province House and The Grand Ball.
     The enactors included are members of the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers and Prince of Wales Historic Dancers. The 18th century portions of the event were coordinated by Historica, a Shelburne-based consultancy featuring theatrical and historical public presentations. >>> see video here

4nov2008: Tight money, big stakes, bad times may be good for concessions from feds... infrastructure spending key to riding out coming recession... >>> more  Ontario joins have-nots... Flaherty worried... NS to get $1.5 billion... >>> more   NS won't escape crisis... >>> more

4nov2008:68,000 Canadian First World War vets to be honoured in week-long vigil and visual display starting tonight in Halifax.
     For those who cannot make it in person to one of the memorials, the Ottawa tribute, cast upon the Canadian War Memorial, will be broadcast online in real time at www.1914-1918.ca. The website will also feature a section where people can share their pictures and stories.

4nov2008: Shelburne percolates with movie energy... within a month's time, the Shelburne area has been the focus of movie makers wanting to take advantage of the area's benefits. For the producers of a vampire movie, it was a sound stage close to Halifax and cut-rate accommodations for cast and crew, for a "perfect storm" kind of film, it was a bold and boisterous ocean and a scallop dragger similar to the story's antagonist and for the producer/director of a ghostly tale, it was the possible availability of a scary old house on the ocean.
     The producer, director, cast and crew of the Discovery Channel made-for-TV movie "Working on the Edge" are in Shelburne for two days shooting on an aging scallop dragger at the government wharf. Based on the fatal 1981 fishing boat tragedy off Kodiak, Alaska, the film stars Peter Outerbridge (reGenesis) and is directed by TJ Scott (Xena the Warrior Princess). Conceived by the series' producers, the film will lead off the 2009 season of The Deadliest Catch.
     Paul Kimball brought his production of vampire flick Eternal Kiss to the sound stage at SEA Shelburne at Sandy Point for a fortnight recently and a also shot on Shelburne's waterfront and at a cemetery in Lockeport. 
     Writer/producer James Lawler was in Shelburne on Monday scouting locations for a low-budget film based on the Don Delilio novella The Body Artist. The film is expected to shoot in fall, 2009 and is slated to star Rebecca Hall, who stars in Woody Allen's latest, Vicki Christina Barcelona and will play Winfred Edington in Einstein and Edington.
      The vampire movie did not add much to the local economy beyond SEA Shelburne, but the two-day waterfront shoot produced a welcome shot in the arm for some local businesses. Gary O’Connor, owner of the re-furbished Loyalist Inn, said that the producers booked a total of 48 room nights, enough to cause him to move some of the crew to a local motel when he ran out of space.
      “I couldn’t be more pleased about the business,” says O’Connor. “The producer said that they have a couple more marine-based movies coming up that they will definitely consider shooting in Shelburne. Besides, they were such nice people.”
     Alan Reid at the Sea Dog Saloon tells a similar story. He served 75 meals to the film company during the shoot, in addition to hosting the “wrap party” on Wednesday, where musical heartthrob Pigott entertained the others until the wee hours. “We get a little business from films shot outside town, but this was really fantastic,” Reid enthused. Both business owners said they would welcome more small movies shot in the area. 

3nov2008: Mackay and Harper must minimize damage in coming budget cuts... With a catatonic U.S. housing market and bad-credit fallout, where Americans aren’t building or renovating houses or buying new cars, a lot of Canadians who saw logs, mine gypsum, build gas tanks or mould tires are going to be on shaky ground. >>> more   "Button up... says MacKay to Williams"

3nov2008: Energy minister ignoring South West Nova concerns in dealing with Georges Bank moratorium?... Sterling Belliveau, NDP MLA for Shelburne, asked the minister of energy, Richard Hurlburt, in the legislature on Thursday why he is willing to ignore the opinions and advice of most of the major fisheries players in South West Nova, and continue a process that’s designed to lift the Georges Bank oil drilling moratorium. 
      “The Department met with the Seafoods Producers Association of Nova Scotia and other fishing industry groups in July,” says Belliveau. “Their reaction to the Georges Bank issue was clear – they rebuilt the NoRigs Coalition.” 
     The Department of Energy is working with DFO to complete a study on the impacts of offshore oil and gas exploration on Georges Bank. It’s completion date is December 31, 2009. 
 Belliveau criticized both inadequate funding for the report and on one-week window allowed for assessing the report prior to a government decision on calling for a review of the the moratorium, which expires in 2010. The timing says Belliveau, "won’t allow DFO to do an adequate job on such a complex and important task.?”
     Hurlburt, who is also the MLA for Yarmouth, has publicly announced he is in favour of drilling in the Georges Banks. In the wake of decreasing tourism business in the region, the Port of Yarmouth is believed to be reviewing the prospects of generating substantial income from servicing offshore oil exploration in the region. 

1nov2008: Tourism numbers drop again... US visitor losses to continue for two years... For the month of September, visitors to Nova Scotia totaled almost 219,000, a five per cent decrease – or about 12,000 fewer visitors – compared with September 2007. Year-to-date numbers are down 3%, and US visits, according to tourism chief John Somers, are expected to remain low until at least 2010.  Air travel and cruise visits are up from previous years.

1nov2008:  Lobster season set to go November 24 amidst fears that prices could be as low as $2 per pound... There had been speculation that at the fall meeting of the lobster fishing area (LFA) 34 advisory committee there would be a call from the floor to postpone the opening of the season by one week to Dec. 1 for the fishery off Yarmouth County, N.S. and parts of Shelburne and Digby counties. 
     But none of the port reps put the issue on the floor for a vote, despite the fact that among fishermen and reps opinion is still divided on the best day for the season to open  >>> see more news about Area 34    
     The impending crisis here is due in part because of the fallout from the major world financial crisis. The Bangor Daily News reports that the current crisis in Maine is tied directly to the collapse of Icelandic banks which were key lenders to processors in Canada. Note: Clearwater Sea Foods announced recently that the collapse of Glitnir Bank of Iceland meant the loss of $25 million - or 10% or Clearwater's debt - in expected financing meant the end to a deal to take the company private.  
      South Shore MP Gerald Keddy told The Herald, "We have to keep working on what we are doing to lessen our super-dependence on the U.S. and move toward increasing trade with others... Anyone who thinks we’re not in for rough times, though, is kidding themselves and any politician that says in the short term there is anything we can do about it is lying."

30oct2008: Local political leaders get earful at session with education minister and deputy... the room at the Shelburne fire hall was filled to the brim with the best and brightest among Shelburne County's municipal leaders on Wednesday night as deputy minister of education Dennis Cochrane led the largely silent group through a well-rehearsed slide show designed, according to education minister Karen Casey, "to clear your mind of the misinformation".
    The "misinformation" surrounds the concerns raised by Tri-County Regional School Board administration, staff, and parents in the several months following the last school budget cycle, where Casey says the Tri-County board came up $3 million short. In the ensuing weeks, Tri-County staff and parents organized public meetings in which a funding disparity of $10 million between the similarly-sized Tri-County and Straight School Board was discussed. 
     "Despite the deputy minister spending the bulk of his time explaining why the Straight Board should get more money than Tri-County," said programming administrator Bill Curry, "we are not disputing the fairness of the funding administration, we argue that the funding formula itself is wrong and results in obvious inequities in programming delivered to the students."
     Cochrane, a former New Brunswick MP, Tory party leader and Mayor of Moncton, explained with many colourful charts and graphs that the difference was closer to $2 million and that that gap would lessen over time. Casey also explained that she could not imagine why the local board was the only one of eight who couldn't balance their books wondered "how they (TCRSB) could be so far off." Casey said that, "although we didn't think they needed it," the department gave Tri-County and extra $500,000 at the last budget cycle.
     A source familiar with the methods used by various boards to balance their budgets said that some boards used millions of dollars in surplus funds to make the books balance last cycle, something not available to Tri-County. A spokesman for the South Shore School Board stated during the public uproar earlier this year at staffing cuts from the last budget cycle that his board could not survive another budget in a similar fashion, as their surplus was exhausted. 
     Casey took a stern tone as she addressed the issue of the Tri-County board seeking additional funding and the "misinformation" circulating regarding the alleged disparities. Though very few of the attending municipal leaders had any questions or comments for the minister and deputy, former school board member Karen Mattall-Harris raised several issues and local educators in the crowd suggested Casey and Cochrane visit just one of their classrooms to see if the students were getting a fair shake.
      The department has hired former deputy education minister Lloyd Gillis to review and assess the circumstances surrounding the budget issues in the Tri-County board. Gillis preceded Cochrane at the post. One of Gillis' methodologies is direct interviews with staff, in which he inquires whether the employees think Tri-County is spending its resources wisely and whether students are being well-served by the current system.

30oct2008: Davis set for jail term on traffic charge... saying he sped away to avoid assaulting a Shelburne mother after nearly hitting her child in a crosswalk with his car, municipal councilor Raymond Davis told a judge in Shelburne that he'd rather go to jail for six days rather than pay a fine of less than $400.
    Davis, who has been publicly battling severe mental health issues, says he was very depressed on that date. The local motel owner gave the same explanation to a judge in Bridgewater recently when he was found guilty of several charges surrounding an incident in which he begged police to kill him after a car chase and for which he was remanded for a month to a criminal psychiatric unit .. >>> more 

28oct2008: Online food safety reports show mixed bag on South Shore... the newly launched web site by the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture allows consumers to review the food safety inspection reports filed by food inspectors throughout the province.
      South Shore towns averaged 26% of the listed restaurants with food safety violations, with Chester having a perfect record and Yarmouth, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg showing 40% of the establishments with violations. Most of the violations were minor, but the Good Luck Restaurant in Lunenburg racked up 4 violations.
     More than one half of the Tim Horton's franchises throughout the province chalked up violations, with some at three per unit. Both the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Restaurant and Food Service Association backed the project, which sponsors say uses the "best practices" from other jurisdictions with similar programs.
     Nova Scotia has 25 nationally certified public health inspectors who carry out about 10,000 inspections each year in 5,000 licensed food service facilities throughout the province.

28oct2008: Scottish Fiddle Orchestra coming to Shelburne... The ever-popular Caledonian Scottish Fiddle Orchestra will appear at a special show at The Osprey in Shelburne, Saturday, November 1 at 8:00pm... >>> more

24oct2008: $836,000 bill due next week for Shelburne's Bowood... an $836,000 mortgage payment is due to the lender on November first on the loan for the 2006 purchase of the former boy's reform school in Sandy Point. The property is home to two small recycling centres and has been the site of a few sparsely-attended music concerts.
    Engineering consultant Ralston MacDonnell purchased the property from South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA), re-named it Bowood in honor of the ancestral home of Lord Shelburne and invited local civic leaders to help market the site. A $40,000, October 2004 assessment report prepared by MacDonnell cited a "residential care facility" as the number one use for the site, but a MacDonnell staff person told SCT recently that the property is currently being marketed as a training facility.
     A Nova Scotia real estate developer familiar with the property told SCT, "I'm amazed that MacDonnell has done nothing with the property even approaching the recommendations he made in his own report to the government."
     No decision has been made by the current lender about extending the terms of the mortgage. "We haven't had any discussions about the future of the property or any additional terms of the mortgage," said Besim Halef, owner of Banc Properties in Dartmouth.
     The $550,000 proceeds from the sale of the property, plus $100,000 in administrative funds were to have been distributed to Team Shelburne municipal units upon the sale. At a December court hearing in Yarmouth, SWSDA lawyers admitted that all of the funds had been spent on day-to-day operations at the development agency. The judge ordered that the monies from the expected sale of the former CFS Shelburne be held in trust in lieu of the Boy's School monies. A contempt of court suit is currently underway in Supreme Court alleging that SWDSA and CEO Frank Anderson have seriously breeched the court order.

24oct2008: $3 a pound lobster prices causing concerns... The economic turmoil happening around the globe, and in particular in the United States, has been causing deep concern for lobster fishermen, according to Denny Morrow, of the Nova Scotia Fish Packers Assoc. In Maine, lobsters are selling for $3 a pound and less.  >>> more  

24oct2008: SeaCoast entertainment rumors quashed... "...base closed, employees fired, Kendrick & Co. flee to USA..." nothing but rumors, according to Jim Kendrick, in a front page editorial in the October 24 issue of South Shore Good Times. 
     His trip to the USA was merely to take his wife to visit relatives, Kendrick adds, and to relax after working 24/7 to satisfy the "very high maintenance" film crew recently encamped at the former base.
      SeaCoast chief financial officer Paulette Scott is reported in Good Times to have told Kendrick that "it is all over Shelburne that the base is closed and all employees have been fired." Having heard similar stories from several sources, SCT contacted Scott, who said that the rumours were "absolutely not true." When asked about what parts of the business were most active these days, Scott said that the candle making factory will begin a promotion in locals schools soon.
     Kendrick and partner Mary Barstow bought the base earlier this year for a reported $2.75 million, 60% of which was subsidized by a $1.75 million mortgage from the Nova Scotia government (through SWSDA), with no payments of interest or principal for two years.
     The site, now called S.E.A. Shelburne, hosts a mini-putt golf course, outdoor movie theatre, convenience store, Sea Song Inn hotel, entertainment, video and web design company and candle making factory.  

22oct2008 Small harbours in Shelburne County being overlooked... More than a few Shelburne County fishermen are finding that their home ports don’t provide safety for their boats during severe storms, says a local harbour supervisor. >>> more

21oct2008: Davis fined after trial for vehicular mayhem... in what many hope is the final chapter in the bizarre case of Shelburne municipal councilor Raymond Davis' attempted "suicide-by-cops" gambit, Davis was fined $1200 by a judge Monday and had his driver's license revoked for one year. The report says Davis begged RCMP to shoot him after a car chase on highway 103... >>> more 

22oct2008: Bowater lands to become nature reserves... Government says five new nature reserves located on former Bowater Mersey Paper Company lands in Nova Scotia will protect old-growth forests, wetlands, rare species' habitats, and ecosystems... >>> more
 

19oct2008: Politics of hope in Shelburne?... After several years of watching a moribund town council and an often dysfunctional municipal council stumble through some of the very large problems facing our region, the election of eight new faces to the two councils is bound to give rise to hope in troubled times and troubled times to come. >>> more
     

18oct2008: Delaney wins in Shelburne by wide margin... Councilor Al Delaney has beaten incumbent, six-term mayor P.G. Comeau by a wide margin, taking 728 (71%) votes to 294(29%) in the town of Shelburne.
    In an interview with SCT Saturday evening, Comeau said he sensed an appetite for change in the electorate, but admitted that "I didn't expect it to be such a wide margin."
     CBC TV called the extent of the win "shocking," citing Comeau's long history as mayor.
     The Shelburne Town Council will have several new faces, as Karen Harris-Mattatal, Elizabeth Rhuland and Michael Race were elected, while Elizabeth Acker, Tony Mahaney and Bernie Nickerson returned.
     

Huge upsets in Shelburne muni council could signal sea change... Davis, Scott & McIntyre defeated. With warden Sherm Embree acclaimed, he is joined on council by re-elected members Ardith Van Buskirk and John Roscoe, plus Roger Taylor, Doris Swaine, Norm Wallet and Cathy Holmes.
     Holmes defeated Terry MacIntyre by 20%, Norm Wallet beat Raymond Davis by 38% and Roger Taylor crushed former warden Paulette Scott, taking nearly 80% of the vote. Swaine took the seat vacated by former warden Pat Nickerson. 
     Davis has been actively battling bouts of mental illness during the past year, with some very embarrassing public episodes, including screaming fits at council, a failed attempt at suicide, an arrest and upcoming trial for fleeing police and forced incarceration in a psychiatric ward..
     In addition to consistently providing sketchy reports to council about her activities as warden, Scott was hounded throughout her tenure on council for what many of her constituents perceived to be very obvious breeches of conflict of interest surrounding the El Paso Natural Gas Company and, more recently, in the sale of the former military base at Sandy Point. She recently accepted the post of chief financial officer with the new owners at SeaCoast Entertainments.

Big upsets in Barrington... Eddie Nickerson loses close race with Cathy Stoddart and Andrea Newell wins 2-1 over Robie Atkinson for school board. Cecil O'Donnell narrowly beats incumbent Wilford Smith, Donna Leblac-Messenger, Sean Strang win. No word in district 5.

Clarks Harbour results... Mayor Leigh Stoddart acclaimed, Sherrie Atkinson, Irene Baker, David Beaulieau, Cecil Brannen, Rex Stoddard and Matthew Swimm as councilors.

Lockeport results... Darian Huskilson acclaimed as mayor, Errol Williams, Lonnie Townsend, Allen Stewart and Howard Roswell as councilors.

Changes in Queens/Liverpool... with mayor John Leefe acclaimed, he will see many new faces on council, including Owen Hamlin, Sheldon Brannen, Bruce Inglis, Randy Dickie, John Croft. Doug Adams and Darlene Norman were acclaimed and incumbents Peter Waterman Mervin Hartlen returned. >>> more

Mooney beats veteran Charles Crosby in Yarmouth... On the council scene Byron Boudreau, Ken Langille, Martin Pink, Neil Mackenzie, Danny MacIsaac and Esther Dares won seats. >>> more

Warden and councilors lose in Yarmouth municipality... Incumbents Brian Noble, Daniel Muise and Bryan Smith, the council's warden, were all defeated. Taking their places will be Trevor Cunningham, Murray Goodwin and Heather MacDonald ... >>> more

17oct2008: Mayors race in Shelburne down to the wire... it's almost all over but the weeping in the mayor's race, with few voters being willing to admit to much difference between the two candidates and most predicting decisive victory for their favourite.
     Councilor Al Delaney and mayor P.G. Comeau sat at adjoining tables at the Chamber of Commerce Awards banquet, with Comeau sharing supper with his wife and Delaney breaking bread with vocal supporter and SWSDA CEO Frank Anderson. 
     Comeau has confided that he is likely to be able to outspend Delaney and also that he has some "surprise" strategies planned for election day. Delaney is known to have offered election day driving jobs to former Comeau supporters and there is some speculation that Delaney may be surprised about unhatched chickens being counted too soon.
     Given the personalities of the two, the most significant changes in town policy may come from the election of three new councilors, mitigating some of the toadyism seen in previous discussions among and votes by council.
     In the Shelburne municipal race, it appears that little might change in the way of council make-up, despite the entry into the fray by several very capable and attractive candidates. Unless someone has committed gross errors of judgment or is certified nuts - or maybe even if they have been - folks are disinclined to switch candidates.  
     Admittedly, there has been little enough time to grasp the electoral situation in Barrington, Clarks Harbour, Lockeport, Queens and Yarmouth. Maybe another year.
     Here's hoping we end up with councils who can do the public's business honestly, transparently and generously, with less "my-way-or-the-hiway" and more intelligent and thoughtful discussion of the pressing issues.
     Remember on Saturday... vote early and vote often.

17oct2008: Budget cuts coming to Nova Scotia?... Nova Scotia's response to dealing with the potential effects of a downturn in the world economy will not include running a deficit, Premier Rodney MacDonald declared Thursday.
     "We will not have a deficit in Nova Scotia," MacDonald bluntly told reporters following the weekly cabinet meeting.  >>> more

17oct2008: With Halloween just two weeks away... many residents in Woods Harbour, Barrington and Cape Sable Island have added a few unusual characters to their property.    >>> more

17oct2008: Doc Walker to show at The Astor... Five-time winners at this year’s Canadian Country Music Awards,  Doc Walker will be making a stop at the Astor 8 p.m. Oct. 20 on their east coast tour.  >>> more

17oct2008: Business excellence feted in Shelburne... the Shelburne and Area Chamber of Commerce  and Shelburne Business Development Centre hosted the 6th annual Awards for Business Excellence banquet Thursday night in Shelburne.
     Award winners included Onshore Construction for Entrepreneur of the Year and The Coopers Inn for Tourism Operator of the Year.

17oct2008: Women in Business ride the wave..  a conference designed to assist women in business and women considering going into business will take place at the Yarmouth Rodd Grand Hotel on Oct. 28 and 29.  >>> more

16oct2008: Curl For Cancer needs volunteers... on December 6^th the Shelburne Curling Club hosts "Curl For Cancer" to raise funds for programs and services of the Canadian Cancer Society. Enter a team, volunteer or donate... For more information: 742-4157

16oct2008: Lower freedom of information fees, says advocacy group... Lowering fees for information requests would be a good way for the province to mark 250 years of democracy in Nova Scotia, says the head of a non-profit advocacy group.
     Darce Fardy, who founded the Right to Know Coalition after retiring in 2006 as the province’s review officer for the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, says Nova Scotia has some of the highest FOI fees in Canada...  >>> more

15oct2008:   Shift happens... Thibault out as Tory Kerr takes West Nova... After eight years as West Nova’s Liberal MP, one-time federal fisheries minister Robert Thibault conceded victory to Conservative rival Greg Kerr on Tuesday night. Dion's Green Shift cited....     >>> more

15oct2008: Squeaker for Keddy while NDP comes close and Liberals get creamed... Conservative incumbent for the South Shore-St. Margarets riding Gerald Keddy won his seat again by a narrow margin (36% v.33.7%) against perennial NDP candidate Gordon Earl Tuesday night.
     In what was described by Keddy as a "very nasty, nasty..." campaign, Liberal candidate Bill Smith was third in votes, losing to both Keddy and Earl by a wide margin. Smith's campaign co-chair told SCT Monday that the Liberals estimated the race to be a three-way dead heat. The Green and Christian Heritage candidates polled less than 7% combined. 

15oct2008: Twenty-four vie for seven seats in Queens Region... with mayor John Leefe running unopposed, 24 hopefuls are in the running for 7 council seats... >>> more

15oct2008: Downsize this... smaller spaces at Bayside Home?... the head of the building committee for the Bayside Home expansion in Barrington says that the government is "compromising the original concept promised local citizens..." >>> more

15oct2008: Public process promised on decision for new Yarmouth high... If the new Yarmouth high school is built to accommodate grades 9 to 12,  what could that mean for other schools in Yarmouth?
     This is to be the focus of a report being compiled for the Tri-County Regional School Board, with a decision required by the spring....   >>> more

15oct2008: Weak numbers close Barrington visitors centre early after 50% drop for September... the Barrington visitors information centre is reporting a drop of the 13% in visits this year, compared to 2007. The provincial decrease is reported at 3% for the year.
    Meanwhile, Shelburne is reporting a whopping 100% increase to date, according to reporting in South Shore Good Times. The publication quotes deputy mayor Tony Mahaney, representing Destination Nova Scotia, citing the increased summertime activity for delivering the best reported tourism numbers in the province.

15oct2008: Loyalist Landing directors stunned to hear of month-old lawsuit... in what was a disappointing day for the board of directors of the Loyalist Landing 2008 Society, some of them learned Tuesday that the board executive had failed to advise them of a lawsuit launched a month ago against the Society.
     "I am more than upset to hear about this," one founding director said. "For the executive to hide this from us is absolutely wrong and unacceptable. I'll be visiting my lawyer about it."
     The suit against the Society and executives Al Delaney and Suzanne and Jim Mahaney was launched after the trio ignored a request to apologize for allegedly slanderous comments about a former director. Despite the Society getting a letter from a lawyer in July about a possible suit and being named as a defendant in the Supreme Court action in September, none of the other directors were apparently advised by the executive of the situation. 
     No defence has been filed in the case and no allegations have been proven in court.

14oct2008: Spirit of Cameroon and Master Kalima player Njacko Jacko coming to Shelburne Oct 25... "'Njacko Backo's music comes from the soul. In a workshop setting, the audience was completely absorbed by an amazing cultural & musical journey."
    Cameroon drum master Njacko Jacko appeard in two shows on Saturday, October 25 in the Shelburne area. From 11am to 4pm, he plays a show at Birchtown Community Centre (free will offering), featuring drums, kalimba, singing and dancing.  At 8:00pm, his show is at The Osprey ($20).. 
    Njacko says about his performances,"Music can cure people. It's universal, it's spiritual. ...There's magic there. We as human beings cannot even describe it. It's so strong that it's impossible to define what music is. You can't know."   Check out his bio.

13oct2008: Strategic voting targeting South Shore and West Nova ridings... the relatively new concept of strategic voting has emerged as a possible player in the South Shore-St. Margarets and West Nova campaigns in the federal election.
     Gerald Keddy has been elected twice in the volatile riding on the South Shore, and recent emails from arts activists and a pro-environment web site (www.voteforenvironment.ca) seem to think Keddy is vulnerable. The activist mail asks voters to switch to the NDP, while the web site suggests liberal Bill Smith is the best bet to unseat Keddy. Both use poll data which shows Keddy slightly behind NDP Gordon Earle, with Smith well back at 50% of the leaders.
     The VoteforEnvironment web site is the private project of Kevin Grandia, a BC-based pro-environment blogger, Huffington Post columnist and registered 3rd Party with Elections Canada. Grandia says that, with strategic voting, a current projected 131/67 Conservative/Liberal vote could end up being 85/128.
     Derek Wells is a former liberal MP for the riding, is the president of the Nova Scotia liberal party and is co-chair of the Smith campaign. In an exclusive interview with SCT, Wells says that their polling data indicates a tight, three-way race. "Tory support here is undoubtedly down from 2004," Wells says. "Our latest calls to voters indicate that Bill Smith will take the riding."
       In West Nova, former Jean Cretien cabinet minister Robert Thibault is in tight race with conservative Greg Kerr, who came close to beating the liberal stalwart in 2004. Thibualt has been the go-to guy for the libs in the Mulroney/Schreiber scandal and has been sued by Steven Harper and the Tories for defamation as a result.
    Thibault is listed on the web site as slightly behind in the Oct 12 polls (15320/15049) and the site suggests that 271 "strategic" votes from Greens and others would win the riding for Thibault.The NDP and Conservative campaigns did not return calls before publication deadline.
     OTHER DATA: The University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business predictor has no seats being won or lost in Nova Scotia. Democratic Space says it's too close to call in both ridings. 
    Several sites have cropped up to stop a Harper majority, including: Not My Prime Minister, Avaaz, AnyoneButHarper.ca, 

13oct2008: SWSDA backing Delaney for mayor??....  in a very tight race for mayor of Shelburne, the behind-the-scenes electioneering of South West Shore Development Authority CEO may have an effect on the outcome. Generally quasi-government agencies and their employees keep mum in local elections, but Frank Anderson has been very vocal in his support for current councilor Alan Delaney, telling some people that "it's critical that we have a change in Shelburne."
     Anderson and incumbent mayor P.G. Comeau have been at odds much of the time over the past years, with Comeau being openly critical of Anderson's lack of action on Shelburne projects and Anderson threatening to sue Comeau for alleged defaming comments made to a Chronicle Herald reporter.

13oct2008: Longboat diplomacy heats up as filing deadline missed in court case... the two historic long boats built in Shelburne now will have new owners, according to documents filed recently with Nova Scotia Registrar of Joint Stocks. The boats, which have become entangled in a legal battle surrounding claims that a "plot" was underway to place them in private hands, are now being controlled by executives of the Loyalist Landing 2008 Society under the new rubric, Shelburne Long Boat Society.
     In July, the Society wrote a letter to Joint Stocks and others suggesting that the boats should become the private property of directors Alan Delaney and Jim Mahaney, as they had signed funding agreements with public officials. One of the boats is currently being stored at Delaney's Hammond Street home.
     The move to transfer the boats, according to those familiar with the internal workings of the Society, was accomplished at a recent closed meeting of Society directors, all of whom were reportedly sworn to silence by chairman Delaney. 
     The boats played a significant role in the historical reenactment of the Loyalist Landing in Shelburne and plans have been developed to re-create the event on a yearly basis during Founders' Days.  However, the boats will be unavailable for Founders' Days in 2009, as it is reported by the 2009 Tall Ships Festival that have been previously promised by the Society for an event that weekend in Halifax.
     Delaney and the other directors recently failed to file defences in a lawsuit surrounding their alleged defamation of another Society director. 

10oct2008: Mayoral campaign gathering steam in Shelburne... the race for mayor of Shelburne looks to be a dead heat, with 8 days to go until the election. Incumbent mayor P.G. Comeau is known to be a hard campaigner and is also know for his "bare-knuckle style". 
     Challenger and current councilman Al Delaney has generated a loyal cadre of supporters, most notable among them the Shelburne Liberal Party "machine" and his cohorts from the Loyalist Landing Society, many of whom can be seen congregating throughout the day at his new Water Street command centre.
     Delaney has produced a brochure and has placed some campaign signs around town and Comeau has spent heavily on print advertising, including a half-page ad in the Coast Guard. Recently, Comeau has been actively claiming responsibility for bring the filming of the vampire movie Eternal Kiss to the waterfront and he was featured prominently on the front page of the freebie Good Times, published by the owners of the Sandy Point film studio.
     Comeau also says he has some new "strategy" planned for election day. 

10oct2008: Going west with the crowd... seems like some of the best and brightest are migrating west... in increasing numbers... popular Shelburne municipal clerk and Founders' Days organizer Penny Smith is reported to be heading west soon with her hubby.
     We'll manage to get by, but the whole place will be a little less bright every day without her perpetual optimism. en avant. 

10oct2008: More Good Times coming to town?... Jimmy Kendrick and Mary Barstow, publishers of the local freebie Nova Scotia's South Shore Good Times, proud goat owners, lovelorn columnists and film studio execs have apparently bought the former Mahaney house on George Street, opposite the Sea Dog. Goes to prove dorm living isn't for everyone. Welcome to town kids!

7oct2008: Lawsuits for Loyalist Landing execs... all of the senior executives of the Shelburne-based Loyalist Landing 2008 Society are named in a lawsuit alleging that they knowingly published false and defamatory statements about a former director of the society.
     Mayoral candidate Al Delaney and Suzanne and Jim Mahaney are charged in the notice of action filed with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Yarmouth on September 15. The law suit states in part that, in July, the trio began an email campaign to maliciously and knowingly defame the defendant falsely claiming he had "misappropriated Society funds..." and was "plotting to somehow gain control..." of the 18th century longboats and "use them to his personal and financial advantage."
     To date, none of the defendants has filed a response to the suit. According to a  Halifax-based lawyer familiar with defamation cases, the costs of the suit to the defendants could exceed $20,000 just to take the case to trial. Damage awards in similar cases range from ten to fifty thousand dollars. 
     Delaney and the Mahaney's were sent letters by an attorney requesting a retraction and apology, but the letter was ignored, leading to the current suit. The Society has until day's end Wednesday to file a defence.  >>> read lawsuit here

8oct2008: 42k Ironman dory race set for Oct 13... The Ironman, Queen of Hearts Dory Club of Barrington, is a marathon at sea, covering a distance of almost 42 kilometres around Cape Sable Island, from the western side of the mainland causeway to the eastern side. The race starts at 7:00am.. >>> more

7oct2008: Muni news blog shuts down after complaints to warden... a controversial web site which published provocative and defamatory statements about local civic leaders and business people has ceased publication after complaints were made to Shelburne Municipality warden Sherm Embree and CAO Kirk Cox.
    The anonymous blog, called Shelburne County News, was purported to offer a "good news" slant to local happenings, but spent much of its online space in vicious and unfounded attacks on local citizens, business owners, politicians and economic development officials.
     One of those attacked was this writer, who met twice with Embree and insisted on a meeting also with Cox, where he presented both with a detailed analysis of the content and suspected author.  
     The analysis suggested strongly that the author was a highly-placed employee of the Municipality, had previously worked in high levels of federal government, had intimate knowledge of the politics surrounding the fisheries and other local issues, had been a lobbyist and/or consultant and had past and/or current local political aspirations.
     The pair were advised that the Municipality would be fully liable should legal action be necessary to stop the anonymous defamation and should the author prove to be an employee.
     Within hours of the meeting with Cox and Embree, all defamatory content had been removed and no further postings were made. Within days, the anonymous author removed the site completely. The analysis presented to Cox and Embree can be downloaded here.

7oct2008: Mayoral debate goes negative as Comeau's leadership challenged... in what is reported as one of the most feisty campaign debates in some time in Shelburne, Town councilor and mayoral candidate Al Delaney hammered at incumbent P.G Comeau last week about the mayor's lack of leadership and his unwillingness to cooperate with other officials.
     Apparently reading prewritten answers from questions submitted to moderator Doug Drane by his campaign team, Delaney seemed to hang his campaign on the success of the Loyalist Landing project, complaining that the mayor had not attended the New Year's eve joint levee in Shelburne.
     One attendee noted that the event seemed like a "caucus meeting for the Shelburne County Liberal Party" and one reader called to complain about the obvious - and to his thinking - inappropriate campaigning at the event for local federal and other candidates. 
     Delaney also accused Comeau of undermining the Loyalist Landing celebrations, despite the fact that Comeau had participated in several events during the Grand Reennactment Weekend and Freedom of the City ceremony and had received messages of appreciation and gratitude from Loyalist Landing Weekend organizers, including the Brigade of the American Revolution.
     Delaney and some of his campaign team are facing a lawsuit connected to their activity regarding the LL2008 Society.  >>> see story here

7oct2008: Woods Harbour trail and fire hall opened... Premier Rodney MacDonald celebrated the opening of a new multi-purpose trail as well as a new fire hall in Woods Harbour Monday evening... >>> more

7oct2008: "Then and Now" rug hooking show at McKay Library Oct 21 - Nov 1...  >>> more

7oct2008:   International students welcomed ... The Shelburne area has welcomed 12 international students this year representing eight different countries...  >>> more

4oct2008: Shelburne shines at Democracy 250 celebrations... Members of the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers from Shelburne raised their muskets during a Democracy 250 anniversary celebration at the Grand Parade in Halifax on Thursday as part of an 18th century encampment for the event.
     Almost 20 historical animators from Shelburne were present throughout the October 2 celebrations, providing colour guard security for the special session of the Nova Scotia legislature at Province House, animating the reception there for guests and politicians, creating parades in downtown Halifax, presenting at Province House of “ People of the 18th Century” and, in collaboration with the Black Loyalist Heritage Society, presenting a “Black Freedom” tableau.
     The Prince of Wales Historic Dancers joined the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers and Commander Bob Guay in the evening as special guests at the Grand Democracy 250 Ball and, under the direction of Lorraine Chapman, performed several dances accompanied by Symphony Nova Scotia. 
     All 18th century animation for the day-long celebration was coordinated by Historica, a Shelburne-based consulting service for historical entertainments. Reenactors included representatives of Fortress Louisburg, Marine Museum of the Atlantic, King’s Orange Rangers, Royal Fencible Americans, 84th Regiment of Foot and the 78th Highlanders.
     The 3rd New Jersey and the Prince of Wales Dancers were also featured on CTV, Global and CBC TV and CBC Radio broadcasts.  >>> download story

30sept2008: Authority in contempt says company... Supreme Court allows contempt proceedings against SWSDA... responding to assertions by Ocean Produce International that the South West Shore Development Authority and CEO Frank Anderson had directly disobeyed an order issued in December by Supreme Court justice Allan P. Boudreau, on September 18 Justice Patrick J. Duncan issued an order granting OPI leave to commence contempt of court proceedings against SWSDA.
     The case involves proceeds from the sale of the former Boy's School in Shelburne, which, after claims by OPI that the proceeds should be frozen, SWSDA's lawyers said had been spent and were reduced to "a book keeping entry."
      Boudreau ordered instead that approximately $700,000 from the sale of the former military base at Sandy Point be held in a separate account pending the outcome of an 8-year OPI-SWSDA lawsuit. That property, valued at $10 million-plus,  was sold to American investors for $2.75 million, with $1.75 million of the price held in a SWSDA-backed mortgage.
    The primary case has been set for trial in 2010. >> see Herald story

30sept2008: xperion lands at Yarmouth Airport... The Yarmouth airport has landed a new tenant. An aerospace manufacturer, xperion of Germany, announced Monday it will build a $2-million facility at the airport to make high-end composite parts for the aerospace industry... >>>more

30sept2008: Belliveau lauds US decision to protect Georges Bank fishing grounds...  Proposed legislation that would allow offshore exploration and development 50 miles and out from the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines was passed by the U.S. House of representatives... >>> more  

26sept2008: Shelburne set to shine at Democracy 250 Gala... Shelburne''s historic reenactment community is playing a big part in the big October 2 finale for the Democracy 250 project, which will have an overall 18th Century theme. Local players' presence will be felt in a number of ways. Key players with the Shelburne Reenactment Association are coordinating most 18th Century elements of the day and the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers will be out in force all day at the Grand Parade and Province House.
     The Prince of Wales Historic Dancers will give three performances during the day, including being the featured act with Symphony Nova Scotia at the Gala Ball, the Association is presenting "People of the 18th Century" a living history tableau of 18th Century life, the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers, in association with the Black Loyalist Heritage Society, will present the historic timeline vignette, "Black Freedom", Governor Charles Lawrence will be portrayed by Owen Hamlin of Liverpool, one of the primary architects of the Loyalist Landing Grand Reenactment Weekend in Shelburne during the summer .
     The events are featured in a full page ad in Friday's Halifax Herald.  A full schedule of the October 2 events is available online and tickets to the 18th Century Costume Ball are available online also. Photos from the press conference announcing the Oct 2 event are also online. 
     The Association, 3rd New Jersey and Prince of Wales Dancers provided the major attractions during the Loyalist landing 2008 celebrations this summer in Shelburne.

25sept2008: Shelburne candidates forums announced...  pre-election public forums have been scheduled in Shelburne for both federal and local elections. The federal candidates will appear on Tuesday, September 30 and the Town of Shelburne candidates appear on Thursday, October 2. Both events are at the Shelburne Community Centre/Fire Hall at 7:00pm and are sponsored by the Shelburne and Area Chamber of Commerce. .. >>> read or download poster here  

24sept2008: eBay shill now selling phony subdivisions in Barrington... Long Islander (New York) Peter Chiofolo has begun selling bogus "subdivisions" on his property near Goose Lake in Shelburne County. Using strategies formally employed by eBay land seller Carmen Blinn, Chiofolo has touted his land sales using the internet.
     Chiofolo operated as a "shill" in an elaborate scheme by Blinn in which virtually unusable land in Port Clyde was sold over the internet site eBay with outlandish and unsupportable claims that the land was perfect for building vacation cottages. Chiofolo, who was a friend and business partner of Carmen Blinn and her husband, supplied bogus "sellers ratings" on the eBay site, claiming to be very pleased with property he had never seen. Of more than 60 lots sold, not one has yet gained building approval in the "Seaside Breezes" development.
     Using an arcane piece of regional planning code, Blinn and her husband divided a single piece of land into more than 300 lots, selling them with low down payments and monthly rates under $300. After lawsuits were filed against the Blinns for fraud in their land sales practices, and after they were removed from eBay, the Municipality of Barrington revised the planning code to allow for no more than 3 lots sold through the "instrument of subdivision" mechanism.
     Despite his claims that he is selling lots in a subdivision near Port Clyde, Chiofolo has not made an application with the Municipality to formally subdivide the property. Both Blinn and Chiofolo have claimed on their various web sites that they are "partners" in real estate sales deals.
     Despite on-going lawsuits for land sales fraud and defamation, Blinn continues to describe low, swampy, scrub land as "pristine, beautiful Atlantic Ocean Side property".

24sept2008: South Shore - St. Margarets races gets nasty as Liberal Bill Smith says he is "disgusted" with Conservative Gerald Keddy and calls Premier "Ronald McDonald"... Three-term MP says Keddy says he is proud to be part of a government that is helping Canada survive the current global economic downturn... Green Party's Michael Oddy concerned about poverty... youth out-migration and privatization of health care concern NDP's Gordon Earle... retired fisherman Joseph Larkin carries Christian Heritage banner... >>> more  

24sept2008: Blood lust comes to Historic Waterfront... Mayor P.G. Comeau spent much of the morning Wednesday warning residents and merchants along Shelburne's waterfront that a film crew would be descending upon the area to shoot scenes of a vampire movie for five days, beginning on Thursday. There will also be a shoot in a local cemetery, but Comeau insists that no remains will be disturbed.
      The film Eternal Kiss, which is also being shot at SeaCoast Studios, centers around a crazy female vampire who owns a film studio. Producer Paul Kimball says any resemblance between  the character and anyone at SeaCoast is purely coincidental.

24sept2008: POW-WOW...Change of Seasons gathering of Aboriginal Peoples in Shelburne... the Native Council of Nova Scotia and local producer Diann Langley are presenting the biggest-ever native gathering in Shelburne County in early October.
     The event features native prayers, drumming, dancers, singers and guests, as well as a smudging ceremony, food and sessions with native elders. Download an event poster here. 

24sept2008: Two small carriers in line for Yarmouth Airport?... The man tasked with making things happen at the airport says Yarmouth could be getting an early Christmas present. >>> more

24sept2008: Heating cost increases to be 300% of rates quoted by NS Power??... When it comes to next year’s electricity rate hike, Ross Blackburn of Lower Sackville has a bone to pick with Nova Scotia Power Inc., the provincial Utility and Review Board and the news media.   >>> more

24sept2008: Whirligig Festival a grand success... the 9th Annual Whirligig & Weathervane Festival on Shelburne's waterfront last weekend was a rousing success, according to organizers and attendees. More than 120 whirligigs and weathervanes were entered and more than $2000 in prizes was distributed to 15 winners.  >>> more  >>> see winners here

24sept2008: Doctor shortage at Roseway Hospital worrisome... Barrington Municipal Council heard hospital administrator Jodi Ybarra and chief of staff Dr. John Keeler discuss the challenges faced by a shortage of 3-4 physicians in the area...  >>> more

24sept2008: Liverpool music impressario shuts down in a flood of lawsuits... Lawyer, car dealer ex fiancee file court claims against Michael Loveridge...    >>more

19sept2008: Power rate hike met with outrage at Utility and Review Board meeting Wednesday. Minister Murray Scott and others testify...   >>> more

19sept2008: Excited delirium, not Taser cause of death for Howard Hyde...   >>> more

19sept2008: Tall Ships Festival feted as "Top Event in Canada" for 2009... $1 million invested by Province... the American Bus Association named the 2009 Nova Scotia Tall Ships Festival as their top pick in Canada for events in 2009, according to a release of the groups web site.
     The 10-day Festival begins in Halifax July 16-20 and the Historic Shelburne Tall Ships Festival is slated for July 22-25. Four to six tall ships are expected for the Shelburne Tall Ships Festival.
      The province of Nova Scotia is investing $1 million into the Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival 2009. The event will be the largest Tall Ships gathering in North America in a decade. Between 50 to 70 ships from 30 countries and up to one million visitors are expected.
     Other Nova Scotia ports included in the 2009 Tall Ships Festival are: Sydney, Port Hawksbury, Pictou, Louisburg, Lunenburg and Yarmouth.
    

17sept2008: NoRigs set to fight Georges Bank oil drilling...  Belliveau calls for Nova Scotia to follow US lead... 600% increase in oil spills... A coalition of fishermen, aboriginal groups, processors and environmentalists don’t want to see gas and oil rigs on Georges Bank. They’ve formed Norigs 3, the latest effort aimed at keeping a moratorium in place after the current one expires in 2012. Nova Scotia energy minister Richard Hurlburt has been a recent proponent of ending the ban >>> more see also...  Oil spills from off-shore drilling rigs 600% more than expected. 
     Shelburne County MLA Sterling Belliveau called for the Province to follow the lead of the U.S. Congress in extending the Georges bank moritorium past 2012. Congress voted this week to allow offshore drilling in some US waters, but excluded Georges Bank from the areas allowed. NS energy minister Richard Hurlburt says that he is not interested in the American side of the issue

17sept2008: Lehman cave-in won't affect Digby wind project... Lehman Brothers, the global investment bank that owns SkyPower, has filed for bankruptcy protection. The largest developer of renewable energy in Canada, SkyPower is a partner with Scotian Windfields in the Digby Neck wind park development, and has interests in projects in eight provinces. >>> more

16sept2008: Tri-county schools boast best and worst in schools report card... Students at some area elementary schools are lagging far behind their peers in math and english and some are doing quite well, according to the just-released report from the department of education.
    Only 22 percent of the students at Hillcrest Academy passed the math literacy test, while Greenfield Elementary in Queens County scored 100 percent. Clarks Harbour Elementary scored  77 while Lockeport Elementary scored 92.
     In the junior high literary assessments, Shelburne High far exceeded the provincial norm of 92 by scoring 98 percent literacy. Barrington High scored 88 and Lockeport High 81. On the early language literacy front only 14 per cent at Drumlin Heights Consolidated in Glenwood, compared with the provincial average of 62 per cent.  For elementary literacy Drumlin fared better with 82, while Hillcrest scored 88 and Yarmouth Central 93.
     The full report is available online 

15sept2008: Whirligig go-round in Shelburne... "Whirligigs are toys for folks of all ages," insists Herschel Specter, co-founder and co-chair of the 9th Annual Whirligig & Weathervane Festival, scheduled for Shelburne's Historic waterfront on Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21. >>> more

15sept2008: Few surprises and many acclamations in muni elections... Clark's Harbour and Lockeport Mayors unopposed... Shelburne sees Delaney going after Comeau... three new councilors for Shelburne Town, six of seven Shelburne Muni and five of seven Barrington Muni seats contested... >>> more 

15sept2008: "Ducky show at Osprey Saturday... A unique and creative celebration of “ducking” takes place at the Osprey in Shelburne on Saturday, Sept. 20 starting at 6 p.m. Vintage and new photographs of duck hunting will be on display with folk art, drawings, recipes and decoys. >>> more

12sept2008: Ebay land sellers lose in Appeals Court... again... infamous eBay land baroness Carmen Blinn lost another court battle  Thursday, when the Appeals Court of Nova Scotia ruled unanimously against her in her attempt to censure SCT editor and publisher Timothy Gillespie.
     Blinn claimed in January at another hearing that Gillespie had printed unauthorized information about her but, after hearing testimony and reading the evidence, Supreme Court Justice John Davison denied her request to seek contempt charges, suggesting that acrimony between the parties, rather than the preservation of "the court's process and authority." might be behind her claims. see Herald story here  see court decision here
    At the January Supreme Court hearing, Blinn also was denied a summary judgment on the original defamation case and Gillespie was granted leave to amend his defense and counter-claim. see decision here
     Earlier this spring, Blinn also petitioned the court seize Gillespie's hard drive for evidence, but was reprimanded by the judge for not following the proper procedure of conferring with the opposing party before making such an extreme claim. When Gillespie insisted on cross-examining Blinn's lawyer on the matter, attorneys representing the lawyer withdrew the demand.       
     The origin of the original defamation suit are web articles published criticizing Blinn's eBay land sales, especially the assertions that Blinn and her common law husband may have been selling swampland in Barrington as prime vacation property. (see current sample web ad here) 
     More recently, the common-law husband - assisted in court each day by Blinn during the ten-week trial - lost a major civil suit in Supreme Court, which included a judgment for full legal and court costs, which might top $100,000.
     Blinn and her numbered company are the subject of a number of law suits alleging that they used fraudulent practices in selling land over eBay. See Herald story here see  NS Business Journal story here 
     None of the allegations in any of the cases have been proven in court.  

12sept2008:enRoute Magazine features Shelburne and South Shore... Charlotte Lance Cafe and Trout Point Lodge are two of several Southwest Nova places featured in the August edition of enRoute Magazine, Air Canada's on-board blatt.
     "A weekend in Southwest Nova Scotia" also features Shelburne's waterfront, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Yarmouth and Mavillette Beach. download pdf here

12sept2008:Shelburne idol??.. Young Shelburne songster Alex Buchanan wins at Coal Shed Fest and set to launch CD.. The recent Coal Shed Music Festival (Yarmouth) song writing contest was won by 17 year-old Alex Buchanan, out of a field of 12 contestants.
      After registration, contestants were tasked with writing a song about the Coal Shed Music Festival, with the winning song selected as the future theme song for the festival. After 2 hours, Alex was the winner, walking away with $400 cash.
     Young Buchanan is also in a mentorship program at Feswick Productions recording studio, where he has recorded and released two songs. Sales from the DCs will  go toward the recording of another 8-10 songs to make a full CD which he hopes to release within the next year. 
     The current 2-song CD will also be part of a portfolio for entrance to NSCC's Waterfront Campus in Dartmouth next fall where the musical prodigy plans to study sound & recording engineering. 

12sept2008: Contemporary art gallery opens in LaHave with group show... The second floor of the famed LaHave Bakery is now a contemporary art gallery aptly named Above the Water and is the site of a group show featuring some of the best work from South Shore artists.
     The show includes wood-fired ceramics by Louise Pentz, mixed media by Rita Lamontagne, paintings by Marina Fregeau and intricate landscapes painted on used window frames by Penny Maloney Ridley.
     The show continues daily to September 30 from 10am to 4pm. The Gallery and LaHave Bakery is on hiway #331 just south of Bridgewater.

12sept2008:Shelburne sailors place first in Canadian nationals... After three days of racing in a mix of weather conditions last weekend, Guy Tipton and Matt King, representing the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club and Atlantic Canada, are the 2008 Canadian Champions in the Fireball Class of sailing dinghies.      
     Hosted by the Nepean Sailing Club in Ottawa, regatta organizer Mike McEvoy said of Friday's race, "it blew the dog off the chain today". Wind gusts over 30kts proved to be a challenge for the whole fleet which called it a day after two races.  
     After recovering from three capsizes and a fouled rudder in Race 1, Tipton and King still managed a second place, followed by a first place in the second race. Saturday races were postponed for two hours waiting for the wind to arrive. The races began around 1:00pm followed by two others in "light and variable conditions punctuated by rain showers". McEvoy stated "Guy Tipton and Matt King continue to be the class of the field with a string of bullets"
     Sunday's racing featured more light and variable conditions and as Tipton stated " we managed a 3rd, 1st and 2nd to capture the overall title" When asked; both Tipton and King said in unison " this is awsome". The two competitors arrived back home Monday.

26august2008: Nova Scotia government moving on Georges Bank oil & gas drilling?... The Boston Globe reported on Monday (re-printed in Herald Tuesday) that Nova Scotia energy minister Richard Hurlburt told the Globe about the prospect of lifting the drilling moratorium on the protected area, ‘‘If there is an opportunity here, we have to look at it." 

26august2008: Shelburne's first writer's festival a big success...  If the way to tell whether a project is right is the enthusiasm it generates, then the recent Shelburne Writers Festival is grand idea whose time has obviously come. >> see full story

19august2008: Yarmouth gets two new doctors... SouthWest Health Authority announced today that Yarmouth has added two new doctors to its existing base of fifteen full-time and 5 part-time physicians for the area, bringing the physician staffing to near 97% of optimum for the area.
      The Barrington area has a full complement of six physicians, while the Shelburne/Lockeport area is lacking two physicians, resulting in the region being underserved by more than 30%.  

19august2008: Tusket gets $1.57 million for multi-use centre... The Acadian and Francophone community in the Municipality of Argyle will have new community facilities, thanks to funding from the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. The funds will be used to build community facilities connected to the École secondaire de Par-en-Bas including a child-care centre, a 300-seat theatre, offices, and community meeting rooms. >> read release

19august2008: Local filmmaker getting big traffic on YouTube with reenactment video... Rick Davis and his Fireworkz Media are getting lots of attention on YouTube for their short video, Longboats and Redcoats, featuring the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers Regiment based in Shelburne.
    In a short time, more than 750 people have viewed the 90 second video.

19august2008: Good Times slams Coast Guard for "smearing" report on Raymond Davis.... the "Good Times" freebie produced by the new owners of the former base at Sandy Point has an over-the-top, front-page slam of the venerable Coast Guard, criticizing its recent story about the legal and medical woes of municipal counselor Raymond Davis.
     Calling the July 29 story "half-baked", and sensationalist, editor and publisher Jim Kendrick said the "so-called journalism" was "ignorant, mean spirited and inaccurate" and was "smearing" Davis.  A check of the facts surrounding the apprehension and subsequent hospitalization of Davis confirms the details as reported by the Coast Guard.
     The story appears in an issue of Good Times distributed on August 15, though the broadsheet has neither date nor issue on it. The previous issues were Vol 1 No. IV (July 25) and Vol 1 #4 (August 2). When contacted by SCT, Coast Guard editor Greg Bennett said that the paper does not comment on items published about the Coast Guard in other media.
     Editors note: Davis is due to be released from a forensic psychiatric unit and is scheduled to appear in court in Bridgewater on August 20. 

19aug2008: Area 34 lobster fishers and scallop draggers agree to lobster videos... A group of fishermen in southwestern Nova Scotia concerned about the effect scallop draggers are having on the lobster habitat they depend on for their livelihood is taking matters into their own hands.
     The men have contracted the use of a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), which will gather video footage of several areas. The group has close to $10,000 to work with. Area 29 scallop fishermen are in full support of the video project. 
    A local anonymous political blog ran several stories in June and July apparently designed to fan the flames of an already tense situation among fishermen in the area, but things seemed to have calmed down somewhat.  >>> more

19aug2008: White Point gets value nod... After thousands of nominations, the South Shore's White Point Beach Resort was given the 2008 Value Award for Resorts in Nova Scotia. The announcement was made in WestJet Airlines July issue of their onboard magazine, UP!

19august2008: East Coast Albacore Championships sail into Shelburne Harbour... the East Coast Canadian Albacore-Class Dinghy Sailing Championships will be held in Shelburne Harbour on August 22-24, sponsored by the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club.
     Co-chair Guy Tipton touts the “ultimate in big water sailing in the safety of a harbour location”. The weekend championships include three days of racing and a full social calendar, including Mike Elliot's Kitchen Party, one of the Club’s famous pig roasts, live east coast music in the evenings, games & contests and more. >>> see web site and full schedule here
     The Historic Shelburne Tall Ships Society has commissioned an original, cut and etched Nova Scotia Crystal Award for the winners of the Regatta, to be held in perpetuity at the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club  >>> see award here

18august2008: Developer Anthony suing Muni of Barrington for $640,000 in Barrington High site contamination... Barrington-based Ken Anthony says he got land contaminated by the Tri County Schools when he bought the former Barrington High School site from the Municipality of Barrington for a condo development.
     The Coast Guard reports that Anthony regrets the action and says that he wishes he could go directly after the School Board.  >>> more

18august2008: Wedgeport Tuna Tournament drawing great interest... The boats haven’t landed their catches yet – let alone left the wharf – but the excitement is already evident in Wedgeport, which will play host to a tuna tournament this week. >>> more

12aug2008: Loyalist longboats to pass into private hands?... the Loyalist Landing 2008 Society has written to the Nova Scotia government regarding the prospect of the two 18th century longboats built with government funding to become the private property of LL2008 chair and Shelburne Town councilman Al Delaney and project supervisor and LL2008 treasurer Jim Mahaney.
    In a July 23 memo to the Registry of Joint Stocks, LL2008 secretary Suzanne Mahaney explains that, "although they [the boats] were built for and by the LL2008 Society, it is actually chair Al Delaney and Treasurer Jim Mahaney who signed the documentation and were held responsible , as individuals, for all financial and legal aspects pertaining to the longboats." Mahaney adds that she is negotiation with Service Canada about "ownership of the longboats."
    LL2008 directors contacted by SCT could not recall any discussions or the passing of any motions at LL2008 meetings which would pass ownership of the $50,000 boats to Mahaney and Delaney. One founding director recalls that ownership of the boats was "always intended for the community, not for the LL2008 Society" as indicated in Mahaney's memo. The July 23 memo cites the transformation of the LL2008 Society into a private, non-profit group designed "to be caretakers of the boats."  
     The longboats have quickly become popular local "icons" and were key players in the historical reenactments during the summer.  The boats are currently booked  for use in Halifax during the 2009 Tall Ships celebrations, making them unavailable fur use in Shelburne during Founders' Days Weekend next summer.

12aug2008: Tent dwellers hosting canoe fest... All things canoe will be celebrated this weekend as Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site hosts The Tent Dwellers Canoe Festival. The Nova Scotia Signature event is the fourth in a summer long series of events celebrating the centennial year of Albert Bigelow Paine’s The Tent Dwellers. >>> more

12aug2008: Business lands in Shelburne with Loyalist celebrations...The “celebration to remember” has proven to be a good one for local businesses, especially in relation to the Loyalist Landing 2008 Grand Reenactment Weekend and other “signature” weekends in Shelburne in July. The thousands of people who flocked to the waterfront and other areas of town left in good spirits and left some considerable cash behind them.  >>> full story

Pierce, Hannah, Richards shine at Writers Fest...

If the way to tell whether a project is right is the enthusiasm it generates, then the recent Shelburne Writers Festival is grand idea whose time has obviously come. The three-day event included many readings, a new play by Susan Hoover, Christine Curry and Alison Stanton and directed by Hoover, an event Saturday, honouring local writer Hattie Perry and including, plus readings by most of the Festival authors. Saturday and Sunday featured solo readings by authors including David Adams Richards, Marq deVilliers, Don Hannah, Stephanie Domet, Elizabeth Peirce, E. Alex Pierce, Darcy Rhyno, Lee Keeting and Peter Healy. Sunday night closed with an open mike with local authors and a performance by folk artist Kev Corbett.
     The Festival, which was emceed throughout by author and radio personality Stephanie Domet, took place at the Osprey Theatre, the Clamshell, Muir-Cox Shipyard, Guild Hall and Charlotte Lane café. By all reports, Friday night’s performance of Small Talk delivered in the acting, directing set design and over-all production.
     David Adams Richards read Saturday inside the Muir-Cox Shipyard building and the massive, storied shed seemed the perfect locale for his reading from The Lost Highway (Doubleday Canada ). Richards, Alden Knowlan Award and Gilller Prize recipient known for his elegiac writings about life on the Miramachi, spoke also about how “place” was so essential in his writings and how it informed his work, irrespective of where he was when writing.
      Sunday’s outdoor readings were also moved into the Muir-Cox, where Alex Pierce read from her newest work, “To Float, to Drown, to Close Up, to Open – A Throat”, an epic and musical poem infused throughout also with a keen and constant sense of place. Pierce, who has just had “To Float…” chosen as one of the year’s 50 best English-language poems in Canada (The Best of Canadian Poetry in English, 2008 - Tightrope Books), may well prove to be one of the more remarkable writers produced by this region.
     She kept the audience in rapt attention, with a background of wind-produced timber creaking and the rapid snapping of the King’s colours just beyond the window. The current version of the poem came to be as a result of a commissioning grant from the Shelburne County Arts Council. "Commissions like this are a marvelous idea," says Pierce. "They maker writers want to write, they tell us you like our work and we should make more of it.”." 
     The poem sprang from a discarded line in another piece and is connected to the lands hereabouts and to the landscape, according to Pierce, whose paternal and matenal families were early settlers in East Sable River . "Calling up out of a throat," stayed with me from the previous work, and coalesced with a memory that disturbed me," Pierce adds. "I dwelled on what tormented me: the sound of two old people, in the dark, at a kitchen table - from my childhood. The sound didn't torment me so much as the feeling that I was unable, or unwilling, to write about it. The memory of that sound was a prelude to the impulse to grasp what makes a voice a voice."
     This special place we call home was also a keynote in the reading following from Don Hannah, who read from Raddall Fiction Award-winner. “Ragged Islands ” (Vintage/Random House Canada ). This trifecta of themes surrounds the “good death” of Susan Anne, who is dealing at once with the current state of affairs as she lay terminally ill in a Toronto Hospital, needing desperately to piece together memory fragments of her early life in New Brunswick and the “fictional” region of Ragged Islands” and a fantastic trip home accompanied by a talking dog. 
     There were insinuations made at the readings that this “first annual” festival would not be the last, which were met with enthusiastic response from the audience. The apparent success of the Festival seemed to prove that there is a decided appetite hereabouts for serious literature and that the management and production team at The Osprey is well-equipped to produce an energetic and satisfying program of edifying and entertaining work. Kudos to all, and please do it again. This story first appeared in The Coast Guard

It's true... it's true... this job's for you... Shelburne warden goes to work for new base owner... stepping into yet another firestorm of conflict-of-interest allegations, Municipality of Shelburne warden Paulette Scott has accepted a job as executive assistant to the chief operating officer of Seacoast Entertainment Arts, Inc., the company which recently purchased the former Canadian Forces Station at Sandy Point (the base).
     Scott is also vice-chair on the executive of South West Shore Development Authority, (SWSDA) who sold the base to Seacoast, which is helmed by the American team of Mary Barstow and Jim Kendrick. Scott told SCT that, although she did not have a title yet, she would be overseeing all "economic development" at the facility.
     With now-departed CAO Reg Ridgely, Scott was intimately involved for months in the recent machinations to sell the property. Scott says her involvement did not include any negotiations with Kendrick and partner Mary Barstow, but Australian film producer Steve Gilmour says that is simply not the case.  
     "She met with Jim, Mary, me and my partner Clare (Bourke-Jones) at least twice," says Gilmour, who exited the deal prior to closing. Gilmour says that he was told by Ridgely that there were several other meetings at Municipal offices with the pair. Scott and Ridgely were reported at the time to have suggested that Kendrick and Barstow encamp in offices supplied by the municipality, but current CAO Kirk Cox nixed the idea. 
     Scott told SCT that she sees "no conflict whatsoever" in taking a position at a firm which just bought property from an organization on which she sits as an executive as part of a deal that she helped orchestrate. "Think about it," says a local expert in economic development and government process, "she helps negotiate a deal for a couple of American investors, then votes to sell the property at a bargain-basement price, then votes to have her agency carry 60% of the selling price. It's a no-brainer"  
     Scott told her councilors at a closed-door council meeting this past week, which she described as a "personnel" discussion, which, according to provincial law, are designed to discuss issues surrounding employees, not government officials. Some on her council are disturbed at what they consider improper, if not unethical, behaviour, and some, like councilor Raymond Davis, see "nothing wrong whatsoever". Councilor Terry McIntyre says he definitely does not approve of the move.
    According to Kendrick, the purchase and sale agreement with SWSDA had always committed SWSDA to ensuring $1.75 million of the purchase price. "Paulette never told us that when she reported to council," adds McIntyre. "I was very surprised to hear about it."  SWSDA treasurer and Lockeport mayor Darian Huskilson says he was also not informed of the $1.75 million guarantee and thinks the SWSDA board should have been informed. 
     The minutes of the SWSDA meeting cinching the $1.75 million agreement read "It was moved... and seconded... to accept the terms to facilitate the sale of the Shelburne Base as negotiated."  
     Scott says that on April 28, she will reveal to the public all of the details of her employment. "I realize that some on my council do not approve," says Scott. "and that I may take a pounding from the public for it, but I am keeping this job." Note:  Shelburne Municipal Council recently opposed a recommendation that conflict-of-interest legislation for municipal bodies be amended to allow challenges by citizens without going to Supreme Court.
     Scott was at the centre of another conflict of interest outcry when she went to work as a public relations worker for the proposed controversial El Paso natural gas project. There have been several out front and back-channel attempts by the Municipality to get Scott a hefty increase in her warden's pay and to find her a job. According to informed sources, former CAO Reg Ridgely spent considerable effort both trying to find her a job and badgering council members to increase her pay. Note: Councilor Raymond Davis informed SCT that he was the one behind the move to increase Scott's income and brought such a motion to council, where it was defeated.
     Several months ago, Scott put her name forward as an employee of SWSDA, where she also sits as vice chair. The plan was apparently scotched when calls of concern were made to SWSDA officials. More recently, the warden paraded in downtown Shelburne wearing a sandwich board trumpeting the base sale and appeared on the front page of the Coast Guard with Kendrick and Barstow.    sct 19apr08

Base fix-ups and developments underway... in an exclusive interview with SCT, Jim Kendrick described the flurry of activity his Seacoast Entertainment firm has been engaged in since taking over the sound stage property in Sandy Point. COO Mary Barstow's Victorian candle factory is packed and ready to ship, as is Barstow's "logo ware" firm. The radio station idea is on hold, says CEO Kendrick, but a sound recording studio is underway, as is a video recording and distribution operation
     "The $15 million film coming May 1 is on track," says Kendrick and the pool needed for water scenes is being retrofitted at present. High speed satellite internet is operating throughout the facility and accommodations are being upgraded for use by film companies and tourists.
     The recent job fair netted 200-plus resume's, from which 3 people have been hired, including municipal warden Paulette Scott. "We are very impressed with the talent pool here," added Kendrick. There are two 'co-ventures" underway, one of which involves the renovation and rehab of the large kitchen there.
     The facility, according to Kendrick could become a local "enterprise incubation centre". Kendrick's US-based Seacoast Entertainment Arts operation will be moved to Shelburne, he says. The firm has a website which promises services such as websites, magazines, newspapers, TV production & distribution, music production/recording/distribution, artist management, concert promotion, digital video/editing, advertising/marketing, commercials/jingles and screenwriting. http://www.seacoastentertainmentarts.com/  sct18apr08

Butt out of base business, or, pound sand about where the money comes from... the matter of where the funding is coming from to finance the $2.75 million purchase of the former CFS Shelburne and sound stage is still a murky mystery, despite this reporter's efforts to get some clarity.
     According to new owner Jim Kendrick, the purchase a sale agreement for the sound stage at Sandy Point included a provision that required owner SWSDA to finance $1.75 million of the purchase. There have been reports that SWSDA has been "shopping" a grant or loan to Kendrick and Barstow out of an economic development fund which houses millions of dollars in "forgiveable" loans. 
     Mary Barstow told SCT that both partners were very "financially stable". When asked why they would then get a government loan or grant or mortgage, she said that was what rich people did, they got mortgages. Barstow refused to divulge whether the $1.7 million from the government would be a mortgage, grant or loan. 
     Kendrick said that the deed is scheduled to be registered today. This reporter quipped that "sounds like they found the money", at which point Kendrick launched into a tirade saying that his was a "real deal", not some "f*&%king fantasy world...", and, he added, that if the reporter "played loose and fast" with him, he would "fix you, you motherf*#@ker."  
     When asked whether the $1.7 million will be a loan or grant or mortgage, and what agency or department was funding the deal, Barstow refused to answer, saying if we wanted to know, "call the government." sct18apr08

Things get ugly in Shellywood??... Australian film producer Steve Gilmour and screenwriter/producer Clare Bourke-Jones are stunned by revelations that former business associates Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow may be trying to torpedo a film project which has been years in the making.
     "We couldn't be more shocked at what we are reading and hearing," says Gilmour, who publicly congratulated the American pair in their successful bid for the base and sound stage property at Sandy Point. "It is simply outrageous what they are doing, and we have instructed our lawyers to take appropriate action regarding this obvious slander," says the outraged Aussie.
     Gilmour and Bourke-Jones received a copy of an email purportedly sent on April 16 to a literary and film agency in Toronto which was signed by James Kendrick of SEA Seacoast Entertainment Arts and using the email address of Kendrick. The email is disparaging of Gilmour and claims he is being hunted by the RCMP.
     Another Sheburne-based business person says that Kendrick made the same assertion to her personally some weeks ago. In a meeting earlier in the month, Kendrick and Mary Barstow reportedly made similar assertions to two other local business people.  
     "I've put my heart and soul into this project," says Bourke-Jones of her Moon Harvest film, "and to have people we once trusted try to scuttle it in such an ugly and venal way is heartbreaking."  The Toronto agency, according to Bourke-Jones, represents several key players in Moon Harvest.
     When contacted about the emails, Kendrick said that he did not recall sending an email to a business in Toronto, but was "so upset at one point about lies being reported about me, I may have sent something like that." Kendrick then named a litany of alleged bad debts by Gilmour, but when pressed further, he said he had no personal knowledge about the debts or the assertions about the RCMP. 
     Kendrick added that Barstow's blackberry device which housed some of his emails was apparently missing or stolen two weeks ago. He says also that his email log doesn't show such an email and the email could be a fake.      
     Gilmour's attorney says the RCMP has assured him there is no file open on Gilmour.  Canadian slander law differs from the American version in that, once a claim of slander is made, it is presumed to be true. sct18apr08

 Govt Land grab continues in NS, including Queens and Yarmouth... The provincial government will buy land worth about $4.5 million in Queens, Annapolis, Digby and Yarmouth counties as part of the forestry transition program announced in October. >>> more 

Muni council hears good news about surplus, SWSDA, industrial commission and base deal, gets "swan song" pitch for new digs and more legal wrangling at Sandy Point ... in his last presentation to Shelburne Municipal Council, former acting CAO Reg Ridgely gave council a show-and-tell about various scenarios for dealing with the reputed shortcomings of the municipal building.  >>> more

Keddy gets trade ministers post...South Shore MP Gerald Keddy was rewarded by Prime Minister Stephen Harper with a new post as parliamentary secretary to Trade Minister David Emerson. Mr. Keddy will also continue to serve as parliamentary secretary for ACOA minister Peter MacKay. >>> more

Thibault vulnerable in federal election?...  New poll shows close race, with Tories wining the support of 36 per cent of voters, the Liberals with 35 per cent and the NDP with 23 per cent. The West Nova seat of liberal Robert Thibault was named as a possible win for Tory Greg Kerr, who lost in a close race last election.  >>> more

Trout Point Lodge best listed again... National Geographic Traveler magazine has selected Trout Point Lodge of Nova Scotia for "The Stay List: 150 hotels you will love," which appears in the April, 2008 issue.
     The list celebrates 150 hotels in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean region that are among the best at blending location-inspired architecture, ambiance and amenities, eco-stewardship and an ethic of giving back to the community.  >>> more

Governor General's Award for Mars... internationally regarded Canadian performance artist and part-time Shelburne area resident Tanya Mars, was named one of eight winners of the 9th annual Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts. 
     Governor General Michaëlle Jean praised the winners for "inspiring an ever increasing number of young people of all ages.". Mars, who has performed and presented workshops at The Osprey,  kicked off her career in 1974 while wearing a piece of art called Codpieces: Phallic Paraphernalia. 
     Mars has been described as one of Canada's most acclaimed and important performance artists and told the Toronto Star on Tuesday, "I never thought in a million years the award would go to a performance artist."  >>> Toronto Star  

Thick skin needed for women in politics, says warden... persuading council to have an organizational review one of "best things we did" says Paulette Scott.

Lights out for Earth Hour on Saturday...  Cities and towns throughout the world will be a lot darker on Saturday night when more than 150 municipalities in Canada participate in Earth Hour, a global initiative created by WWF (World Wildlife Fund) to show support for action on climate change. >>> more

SWSDA gets $10,000 for immigration website... The South West Shore Development Authority was one of ten organizations singled out for grants to spruce up immigration-related web services in the province.
    SWSDA's Immigration Information Navigator Website project involves the creation of a website dedicated to informing immigrants of the settlement services available in south west region. Highlighted would be the Navigator position itself, the already created resource directory/welcome kit, links to pertinent partner sites, newsletters, along with press releases and other media coverage, and upcoming events, programs, classes and information sessions. The site will be in both French and English.

Come fly away... 6th Annual Birding & Nature Festival in Shelco... Cape Sable Island is the setting for an amazing act of nature. This untouched part of paradise comes to life with thousands of Brant Geese from February through April every year.  >>> more

Charges expected soon in Karissa murder... The police in the Nova Scotia town of Bridgewater say they’re awaiting DNA evidence as they continue to investigate the death of 12-year-old Karissa Boudreau >>> more

Climate change report spells myriad dangers for Nova Scotia and South Shore... a little-noticed federal climate change study paints a foreboding picture of the future for this part of the world as the climate change chicken comes home to roost in Nova Scotia. 
     "From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate 2007" from Natural Resources Canada spells out problems with coastal erosion, tourism, the fisheries, roads and agriculture, among other areas, and suggests that the capacity to adapt to the inevitable changes is especially problematic in rural areas.
    Local political and civic leaders would do well to read the chapter on the specific issues facing Atlantic Canada.  sct19mar08 

Pointless AbitibiBowater merger?...Brooklyn plant expected to remain open. >>> more 

Funding partnerships for Shelburne Film Studios well ahead of projections...  Jim Kendrick, who with partner Mary Barstow is slated to be the new owner of the Shelburne Film Studios, told SCT Thursday that he and his project partners will produce far more than they have promised in the development of the former military base and that funding levels are well in excess of original projections.
     "Business plans evolve, we are in our fourth iteration now and people will see that this facility (Shelburne Film Studios) will boast a very fine film production facility and all necessary support services," Kendrick explained from  his offices located at the Sandy Point site. "The tremendous support from all quarters has been very encouraging," he added. "We expect this development to be good for all of the financial partners, for Shelburne and for Nova Scotia." 
     In the past, Kendrick said, the operators of the studio had mistakenly depended upon film making a a sole source of income. His company, Seacoast Entertainments, will be looking at other sources of income.
     "The deal," says Kendrick, "just gets better every day."  sct14mar08

Not easy for real estate firm going green... A local real estate company known for its high-end waterfront properties is sponsoring a talk next week on protecting the environment... >>> The Herald

Kelly Cove applies for McNutt's Island salmon farm expansion... Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd (Cooke Aquaculture) has applied to the federal government for an expansion of its Shelburne Harbour salmon operation, according to records from the March 7 application.
     In a recent Liverpool Advance story Kelly Cove manager Jeff Nickerson said he expects "10 new, high-paying with benefits" jobs to result from the expansion. Currently, the company farms three sites over 11 hectares in the harbour, with 14 employees harvesting about 750,000 fish. 
     A Cookes public relation staffer told The Advance that the expansion would allow for rotation of fish and the creation of “integrated multi-trophic” farms,  where mussels and seaweed might also be grown on a salmon site. sct14mar08

Coast Guard parent announces $4.9 million loss from Halifax Daily News shutdown... in the management analysis of its first quarter 2008 statements, Transcontinental Media reported a projected loss of the shutdown of its first daily news operation, which was shuttered in February 11. 
     Part of the loss was attributed to severance for 92 employees, which averaged $15,000. Transcontinental, which also reported increased dividends, operates several Nova Scotia weeklies, including the Coast Guard, Liverpool Advance and Yarmouth Vanguard.  sct14mar08  

Folk Fiesta in Lunenburg... March 29, Pearl Theatre; featuring Catahoula Brown, Grass Mountain Hobos, Fiddles & Feet, Kev Corbett, Grassmarket  >>> more

High oil prices to slow tourism, says regional and national tourism leaders...  Destination Southwest Nova Scotia executive Madonna Spinazola says soaring fuel costs are going to have a negative impact on tourism in the region... >>> The Herald  Canadian Tourism Assoc head says gas hikes will "be a drag"  >>> National Post "The impact is obviously negative," Randy Williams told CBC, "because it costs tourist operators more and discourages consumers from taking trips". >>> CBC

Howard Hyde’s family and the provincial Liberals call for public inquiry... Mr. Hyde, who was psychotic and suffered from schizophrenia, died Nov. 22 after struggling with jail guards and collapsing at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth.
     Now, Howard Hyde’s family and the provincial Liberals are calling for a full public in­quiry into his death last fall, about 30 hours after Halifax Regional Police Tasered him.  >>> The Herald
     Taser use in NS rising rapidly... >>> National Post

Violent sex offender freed to Yarmouth... A violent man who authorities say is likely to commit another violent crime is headed to Yarmouth, not  Cape Sable Island, as reported by the Provincial RCMP. 
     Burnley Lawrence Nickerson, 69, who has a long history of sexual assaults against women, will be released Wednesday after completing his full two-year sentence for assault, use of force, breach of recognizance, uttering threats and mischief.  >>> more  

DND says wind projects near Baccaro need approval... Barrington Municipality says that Correspondence has been received from Major J. D. Tromp of the Department of National Defence advising that each wind turbine project proposal within 60 kms of the Baccaro Radar Station must be reviewed on a case by case basis in order to determine any potential impact on National Defence radar infrastructure. sct12mar08

Free global warming lecture in Shelburne... Sea Education Association President John Bullard presents “Global Warming: What’s Going On Here? What Do I do About It?” at The Osprey on Monday, March 17. The talk is adapted from Al Gore’s presentation, “An Inconvenient Truth”. In 2006, Bullard spent three days with Mr. Gore in Nashville for intensive training on the issue of climate change. Audience comments and questions will be welcomed.  >>> more

Fishermen being branded as criminals, crooks and bad people?...  WTO debate about UI "subsidy" raising hackles of Cape Island fishers... >>> more

Ticking clock on Digby ferry...  A new ferry for the Digby-Saint John service doesn’t appear to be in the cards, but the ‘Princess of Acadia’ may soon be retired... >>> more 

Boat builder's YouTube video catching on... Woods Harbour pleasure boat builder Goreham's Marine is being featured on the YouTube web site with their "Built in Nova Scotia" promo video and the mini-movie viewership has increased by 650% in less than two days. Goreham's was the only Nova Scotia boat builder at the recent Toronto Boat Show. "This video was a great hit at the show, and now folks are watching it world-wide" says owner Stephen Goreham.
     Goreham's has made their mark on the South Shore with their extremely popular 50-foot lobster boat hulls and have included the durability and stability in their line of five pleasure yachts.   >>> view video

Base purchase on schedule... the proposed purchase of the former naval base at Sandy Point is moving at an accelerated pace, according to buyer Jim Kendrick. "We've been working on this idea for a long time," says Kendrick, "and now so many people have come to us saying 'how can we help?'"
    All of the requirements of the purchase agreement have been met and financing is in place for a March 31 closing, says Kendrick. He and partner Mary Barstow have put an offer in on a home in Shelburne and plan to spend much of the month of March in the area getting ready to take possession of the property.
     The recent reports in the Herald and elsewhere that he would not be using the sound stage are false, Kendrick says. "We've met with Ann Mackenzie and Film Nova Scotia have been very cooperative." MacKenzie told SCT that, when the sale is complete and Kendrick and his Seacoast Entertainment / Arts want to start attracting tenants for the sound stage, "We at Film Nova Scotia will take an active role in marketing the venue."
     Kendrick and Barstow were formerly allied with Australian film producer Steve Gilmour on the project, but that partnership ran aground and Kendrick says he has "no idea what has become of Gilmour." The Aussie has told SCT that he and his Atlantic Film Studios are continuing a Nova Scotia production of the feature film Moon Harvest, written by his partner, Clare Bourke-Jones and Gilmour was featured in a front page op-ed piece about the film industry in the March issue of Nova Scotia Business Journal.

MUNI FILES... A brief report on Shelburne Municipal Council meeting of March 26, 2007:

Muni council hears good news about surplus, SWSDA, industrial commission and base deal, gets "swan song" pitch for new digs... in his last presentation to Shelburne Municipal Council, former acting CAO Reg Ridgely gave council a lengthy show-and-tell about various scenarios for dealing with the reputed shortcomings of the municipal building and repairs, renovations or replacement.
     Ridgely, who confessed to being the prime architect of the proposed move to take over the Boy's School and Sandy Point military base and later to move to Bowood, spelled out six scenarios for dealing with a perceived problem with municipal office space. 
     He highlighted the option to renovate the existing building, attached a $3.5 million cash flow figure and projected a "net present value" need for $1.8 million prior to proceeding. Other scenarios carried price tags of more than $4 million. Despite telling council that this was "the best option" and the "one with the least risk", Ridgely later told council that he "wasn't trying to push you [them] in any specific direction."
     One scenario included leasing space at Bowood, but owner Ralston MacDonnell had not yet submitted figures. Previous estimates showed lease rates of $120,000 per year, which would amount to $12 per square foot per year for the 10,000 square feet needed. When questioned by Pat Nickerson about purchasing there, Ridgely said that the "lease" scenario was really "lease with option to buy".
     Ridgely requested some guidance from council to staff for which scenarios were worth pursuing, but the council made no decision other than to recommend that staff "continue working it."

    Other business at the meeting included:

• report that the municipality's surplus of $150,000 might be "clawed back" by a new provincial accounting system
• report that the joint services operation was projecting a surprising deficit of $60,000
• report from Terry McIntyre that the Shelburne County Industrial Commission (formerly Shelburne Industrial Commission) was doing well
• report that Port Authority was concerned it had not been invited by Chamber of Commerce to Atlantic Gateway meeting and that the Authority was concerned with the Chamber's "paralell movement" vis-a-vis port development
• discussion of a Shelburne Harbour Assessment... Note: Ralston MacDonnell (Bowood, Digby Wharf, etc) has reportedly offered the Chamber of Commerce to secure 100% of funding for such a study. 
• report that Port Authority was pursuing small cruise ship business and that Eimskip was returning to Port of Shelburne
• report from warden Scott that SWSDA board governance and oversight had improved and new reporting mechanisms were in place
• report that SWSDA will be asking for a grant to increase its line of credit
• report that base sale is near completion, that municipality lawyers had received letter from Ed Cayer about right-of-way issues at base and that new owners were being "steadily bothered" by Cayer about buying his property there
• discussion about disposition of $2.75 million from base sale, with no clarity among councilors about whether municipality would see any funds at all.
• Appreciation gift to Reg Ridgely for his service. Ridgely said his two years in Shelburne "have been nothing but positive" and he hoped he had touched the council's lives "in a positive way." sct26mar08

Speak up... our readers write...  Nickerson way off-base on SWSDA money? 15mar08

Unfortunately Deputy Warden Pat Nickerson's (see Speak Up column here) private and personal thoughts on the issue of SWSDA and its activities and operations now and in the past appear to have been reflected in her present and past municipal capacities as Warden and Deputy Warden of the Municipality of the District of Shelburne. She also seems to have forgotten the obligations she assumed when elected and sworn in as an official of our Municipal Government. I believe the oath she took makes it clear that her first obligation is to the municipality and its residents and taxpayers.

Clearly the Deputy Warden is better at English literature than she is at bookkeeping. Otherwise, how could she persist in arguing that "... the money is not....mis-used..." I think Frank Anderson's affidavits submitted for the court hearings in Yarmouth in November and December are clear So are the statements at court by Mr. Anderson's lawyer at the November hearing... The money is gone. 

If one reads Mr. Anderson's affidavit it becomes abundantly clear that a considerable part of the original $600,000 provided by the Province, solely for the maintenance of the school property, was actually spent on activities other than maintenance. In fact, not only the original $600,000 is no longer there. The $550,000 from the sale of the school is gone too, Based on Mr. Anderson's affidavit's exhibits. Further, I believe that these monies as well as the $200,000 in guarantees provided by the municipalities of Shelburne County is gone too.

Deputy Warden Nickerson says that all Team Shelburne needs to do is put forward projects for SWSDA to finance. She claims that SWSDA could then use "... those funds plus use them for leverage with other levels of government." Unfortunately, we know from Mr. Anderson's affidavit that the money is gone and as he and his lawyer have said very clearly,, the monies are only a book entry. As I see it, the only way for SWSDA to finance projects put forward by the municipalities would be to "borrow" money from other projects, core funding, the bank or some other source...possibly with additional guarantees from the municipalities. 

Seems to me that the municipalities of Shelburne County have already put their money where their mouth is (to borrow Deputy Warden Nickerson's phrase) and that money is also gone, according to Frank Anderson. What part of that doesn't Deputy Warden Nickerson (speaking on her own behalf) yet understand? 
Ed Cayer
Shelburne

Team Shelburne should stop wasting time and put their money where their mouth is... This nonsense about missing funds from the sale of the Youth Centre has got to stop. SWSDA (South West Shore Development Authority) is operating as the provincial body that it is, according to all RDAs. The money is not stolen, not mis-used, not in the hands of the CEO. It is there where it should be, ear-marked for projects in Shelburne County. 
     Team Shelburne, when they come up with a project for the county will be able to access those funds, plus use them for leverage with other levels of Government. An RDA cannot put funds "In trust" or divide up the proceeds of the sale. It is project funded and very much a creature of the Provincial Government. 
     "Team Shelburne" was set up by the Province in 2003 when the closure of the Youth Centre was announced. The four Ministers came to the Municipality and explained how Team Shelburne would operate - it is an advisory body only and under the auspices of the Dept.of Economic Development. 
     Minister MacIsaac has explained to Team Shelburne that the money is available for Economic Development PROJECTS in Shelburne County. What part of that don't they understand? Instead of wasting time and money, Team Shelburne should be working on a project for the County -- such as a Tourism officer. 
     Yarmouth County have always put their money where their mouth is and have at least two tourism officers -- and how the money flows in. 
Pat Nickerson  10mar08
Ms. Nickerson is not writing as member of Shelburne Municipal Council, but as former Warden, first Co-Chair of Team Shelburne and former vice-chair of SWSDA. 

Editors Note: On February 21, 2008, based on a motion by Warden Paulette Scott, Team Shelburne voted unanimously to defer the request from Discover Shelburne County Tourism Assoc. for funding for a tourism coordinator to individual councils. 

EDITORIAL... It is no secret that SCT has been among many vocal critics of the role that SWSDA and CEO Frank Anderson have played in economic development in this region, but let's give credit where credit is due.
     Anderson and company are often excoriated by local officials in private and public for doing little, if anything, to bolster projects in and around Shelburne and SWSDA's role in the controversial sale of the former Boy's School and the status of the $700,000-plus from the sale remain a topic of concern for many.
    One would think then, that the announcement of SWSDA's role in the largest single grant to a Shelburne-based heritage event in recent memory would generate enthusiasm among locals pols, but not so.
     The announcement at Shelburne Town Council recently of a SWSDA-negotiated $50,000 grant from the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development for the Loyalist Landing 2008 Celebrations resulted in not one word of comment or congratulations from the mayor or Council.
     Shelburne Councilor Al Delaney, chair of the Loyalist Landing 2008 Society and prime mover behind the grant explained to Council that it was only through the hard work and concentrated effort of Anderson and SWSDA that the crucial monies came to be,  but not a peep from Council ensued.
     Delaney has explained recently in other venues that he believes that this Loyalist grant success may be a perfect example of SWSDA's "bring us workable projects and we'll find the funding" mantra oft repeated over the last few years.
     Whatever the true genesis of the grant success, and whatever misgivings we have about economic development strategies in the region, we need to give credit where credit is due. Congratulations to SWSDA, Frank Anderson, Economic Development, Councilor Delaney and the Loyalist Landing Society for a job well done! 22feb08 Timothy Gillespie

Tourism dept sees top-down changes... executive director Lloyd Banfield has left to pursue "a new opportunity" and marketing guy John Somers is now acting ED. Bob Book, former development director is now with Tourism Atlantic and Darlene MacDonald is currently acting director of product development and planning. Lisa MacIsaac, former tourism development officer, has assumed Darlene's former duties. Doug Matthews has taken on new responsibilities within the tourism marketing section. Doug is currently in an acting role as a marketing events coordinator on a pilot basis  11MAR09

Shelburne aquaculture programme tanked... saying that there is no real need for a physical location for an aquaculture program, Nova Scotia Community College has terminated the aquaculture studies programme at the Shelburne campus, and auctioned the equipment as surplus and is converting the former hatchery space to workshops for the "rotational trades", such as plumbing, electrical and refrigeration.
      "We are moving to a different educational mode," said NSCC academic chair Kevin Henderson. "The blended learning system will combine online studies with face-to-face classes. We really don't need physical space for the program." Enrolment in the program has dwindled, according to Henderson, and the changes were requested by the industry due to shifts in the employment needs over recent years. 
     Toby Balch, development manager for the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture says that, during the peak industry growth in the 1990's, many thought staffing needs would continue to grow. The fluctuation of salmon prices, the consolidation of ownership and other factors, he added,  create peaks and valleys of employment needs. 
     "The industry is poised to grow again," says Balch. "We have 350 aquaculture licenses in the province, with 12 active salmon and trout farms and new applications waiting approval."  Cooke Aquaculture, who describe themselves as the largest integrated salmon farming company in North America, is reported to be considering a substantial increase to their operation in Shelburne Harbour. sct5mar08

Bowood mortgage increases to $836,000... according to documents recently filed with the Nova Scotia registrar of deeds, CVN Holdings has increased its mortgage on the former Shelburne Youth Centre property by more than $200,000 and extended the interest-only payment schedule until the end of 2008.
     CVN, which is controlled by Halifax financier Besim Halef, financed the $550,000 purchase of the property in 2007 by Ralston MacDonnell. MacDonnell, his wife Charlene MacDonnell and Bowood Corporation are listed as mortgagees on the loan.
     The security training centre, seniors day care and conference centre planned for the site site have yet to materialize and the condominium units recently put on the market for sale are now being advertised as rentals.
     A concert of the very popular Simon and Garfunkle review played at the new performance space there last week to a small group of paid audience and local officials, who were guests of the promoter, hired by Bowood to produce entertainment shows there. Steve Antle has ambitious plans for the site, including shows in the 150-seat theatre, 800 seat former gym and 5,000-person outdoor square off Commission Street.
     Bruce Guthro, Lennie Gallant, Jill Barber have been named as possible acts and tentative plans are underway to have a Francophone/Acadian-flavoured event, featuring big-name regional performers..  
     According to the registrar filings, the $8,158 monthly payments cover the 12% interest only and the full amount of $836,000 is due and payable on November 1, 2008. sct5mar08

Davis urges action on Acker field... Municipal Councilor Raymond Davis is upset at the recent decision by his council to absent themselves from any responsibility for Albert Acker Memorial Field.     
   The field was created through student labour and donations almost 40 years ago as a memorial to high school basketball star Albert Acker, who was killed in a car wreck enroute to a game. It has been jointly owned by the Municipality and Town for 38 years.
     In an interview with SCT, Davis decried the decision to turn over 52% of the ownership of the field to the Town of Shelburne. "I feel strongly about this," Davis said. "A memorial field is something that is to be maintained as such forever, like the cenotaph."
     The Town has yet to be informed of the Municipal decision and Davis is urging local residents who share his concerns to call and write to councilors to voice their concerns. sct5mar08

Big plans for former navy base... The saga continues surrounding Shelburne’s former base with a new set of buyers recently signing an agreement to purchase the site. 
     According to Jim Kendrick, he and his business partner Mary Barstow from Vermont, have been researching the site for three years since the first time he stumbled across the site while searching for a vacation property. >>> more

US Counsel General visits Yarmouth council, mayor, SWSDA... officials recognize the importance of having a good flow of traffic across the Canada-U.S. border but they acknowledge too the reality of new travel regulations, American Consul General Harold Foster said during a visit to Yarmouth last week.
    Referring to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, he said the hope is that the implementation of the land and sea passport rule...  >>> more 

Digby new home for US-based cruise ship?... The 100-metre liner is being built for Pearl Seas Cruises of Connecticut, which describes the new vessel as the “optimum ship, small enough to sail to intriguing places unavailable to most of the larger vessels while also providing a smooth, comfortable ride in deep-water cruising.”   >>> more

Mackay not impressed after Digby wharf tour... Peter MacKay drove all morning Sunday from Pictou County so he could walk once again on the Digby wharf and what the federal cabinet minister saw once he got there didn’t impress him much.
     "I was here about a year ago and it’s deteriorated further," he said after viewing the dilapidated structure. Mr. MacKay said it was tragic and inexcusable that money designated for wharf repair and upkeep was never used for those purposes. "We know where the money wasn’t spent," he said. "I’d like to know where it was spent."
     In 2001, it was reported by CBC that more than $2 million of federal monies were directed to a firm controlled by Ralston MacDonnell, owner of Bowood (Shelburne Boy's School). At the time, CBC reported MacDonnell as says he was not required to "... account for what it spends to anyone." "What we spent.... was out affair."   >>> more

Film deal "hijacked", says Gilmour in Shelburne County Coast Guard... in a front-page story Tuesday about the new players at the Shelburne Film Studios, film producer Steve Gilmour accuses the new investor group of "hijacking" his proposal to SWSDA.
     Reg Ridgley, out-going CAO for Shelburne Municipality, is quoted as saying the lastest developments in the Film Studio saga are 'encouraging."     
     Vermont-based James Kendrick and Pennsylvania-based Mary Barstow say they have all of the financing in place to meet the February 29 and March 31 deadlines imposed by the current purchase-and-sale agreement. sct26feb08

Movie moves & movers... follow-up story by Chronicle Herald on new Shelburne Film Studio buyers... op-ed in Nova Scotia Business Journal Buzz by Steve Gilmour on the state of film industry in Nova Scotia... 

Highest week, day, month in SCT readership... this week's readership of  South Shore and Shelburne County TODAY surpasses all previous weeks and Tuesday's readership passes the previous daily mark by 40%, according to web site stats.  Friday's readership was the second highest since SCT was launched 14 months ago.
     "The level of local interest in our kind of news has truly surprised me," says editor and publisher Timothy Gillespie. "Our readership this month will be more than 200% that of last year at this time." Unique visitors for the year ending February 29 will approach 40,000, the highest visitor volume of any website in the region by far, according to Gillespie.
     At 20,000 visitors a year, Gillespie's regional tourism website, ShelburneNovaScotia.com, generates more visits and direct room night bookings than all of the other similar webs in the area combined.
     He has also designed most of the high-traffic web sites for the region, including:

• HistoricShelburne.com (for the Shelburne Historical Society)
• DiscoverShelburneCounty.com (for the local tourism association)
• ShelburneChamber.com (for the Chamber of Commerce)
• LoyalistLanding2008.org (for the Grand Reenactment Weekend)
• and many other local webs. sct22feb08

Pushed and pulled at Sandy Point... new U.S. buyers for soundstage property... in one of Shelburne's most long-lasting business melodramas, Australian film maker Steve Gilmour says he and his Atlantic Films Studios have been "pushed out" of the deal he spent five months crafting to purchase the Shelburne Film Studios at the former navel base at sandy Point near Shelburne from the South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA).
    The new buyers, according to Gilmour and Shelburne Municipal warden Paulette Scott, are Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow of Vermont. 
     "I am sickened by this trickery," Gilmour told SCT, " and, besides the loss of five months time, we've lost over $100,000 trying to put this together."  Gilmour told the The Herald Thursday that former partners Kendrick and Barstow were to have transferred funds to his account to cover a deposit check, but failed to do so. 
     SWSDA board members were told Wednesday that Gilmour's check had bounced and that he had sent a letter to SWSDA's attorneys removing himself from the deal. "Absolutely not," says Gilmour. "Our intention was to sever our ties with Kendrick and Barstow, but stay in control of the offer and sale agreement which we worked months to create." Gilmour told The Herald that he had the money to complete the deal.
  The SWSDA board voted to continue the deal with Kendrick at least until February 29, when he is required to prove that he has the resources to complete the deal. The Board also voted that, should Kendrick not meet the deadline, CEO Frank Anderson could proceed with another offer in the wings, reportedly from a U.S.-based film company. 
     Fergus Ford, who was the attorney representing the recent "mystery buyer" of the former Boys School (now Bowood, owned by Ralston MacDonnell), apparently has a client interested in the project and SCT has been told that MacDonnell himself may be forming an investment group interested in the base and studio. 
     "We have all of our financing in place and, as far as we are concerned,  this deal is going to happen," Kendrick told SCT. "Frank Anderson, the SWSDA board and Shelburne Municipality have all been extremely welcoming and gracious to us." The U.S.-based pair are currently in Shelburne for meetings about the project and to secure office space and staffing. The municipality has allowed them use of the Council chambers for some meetings.
     Kendrick and Barstow toured the property three years ago and were apparently told by Frank Anderson that the selling price was $11 million. The former publisher, who owns an entertainment firm and construction company, among others, was introduced to the property by a local real estate broker, who also let them know recently that there might be a place for him in Gilmour's deal. The current price on the property is $2.75 million.
     The Herald  reported that a radio station and candle factory were planned for the site and Kendrick says he has plans for many uses at the property. Mary Barstow has a custom candle manufacturing form which will relocate to the site. "Of course," says the self-described entrepreneur, "film production will be top on the list. We are meeting with Anne MacKenzie of Film Nova Scotia on Tuesday to discuss that."
    Kendrick described a current "three-pronged plan", which also includes the creation of "Shelburne Enterprise Park", which he hopes will attract partnerships with local and other firms to build additional business enterprises in the area. "If this sort of thing was easy, everybody would be doing it," Kendrick added. "We want to work with others in creating the next 'right' thing for the area." 
     Kendrick's Seacoast Entertainment firm specializes in multi-media, including web design and music production and distribution. Citing a strong interest in the educational community, he has been is discussions with Nova Scotia Community College about utilizing the aquaculture facilities which are included in the base purchase. 
     Steve Gilmour plans to continue producing films in Nova Scotia - including the Clare Bourke Jones-penned Moon Harvest slated for a start March 1 - but says he has grave concerns that "the only working film studio in Nova Scotia will be plowed under."  sct22feb08  

Catch of the day... fisherman grounded for 10 years... The captain of a groundfish vessel who pitched a childish fit while federal fisheries officers were overseeing the unloading and seizure of his catch last fall has been forbidden to set foot on the deck of any groundfish boat for 10 years.
     Gary Lee Nickerson, 36, of South Side, Cape Sable Island, must also pay several big fines and is on probation for the next year. >>> more

SWSDA makes pitch for Shelburne County tourism role... at a meeting Thursday convened by the Discover Shelburne County Tourism Association, local political leaders heard a lengthy presentation about the recent successes of the Yarmouth and Acadian Shores Tourism Destination by manager Larry Peach.
    South West Shore Development Authority CEO Frank Anderson told the assembled group that SWSDA would be able and willing to use its expertise gained in developing the Yarmouth destination group to oversee the administrative functions of a tourism plan in Shelburne County.
    The meeting ended without any commitments to a future plan by local politicians. sct22feb08  

Yarmouth Council surprised by possible tourism events pullout by development corp... The Town of Yarmouth will ask the Yarmouth Development Corporation (YDC) to hold off on their plans to stop running area festivals and events. >>> more

Sharks doing it on Georges bank?... Marine scientists in Halifax believe they may have found a new breeding ground for sharks off the coast of Nova Scotia, but they have run into trouble trying to retrieve all the data they need to verify their suspicion that porbeagle sharks are mating around Georges Bank. >>> more

Rural Mailboxes to be abandoned??... 73,000 mailboxes in Nova Scotia are under review in "safety" assessment   >>> more

Shelburne's favourite "songbirds" coming to Osprey for Women's Week show... Merrie Howe, Pat deMolitor, Lisa Buchanan, Kathleen Glauser and ShellyMacIntosh slated for Buchanan-produced show March 1. >>>see poster here   >>> Osprey we here 

Bridgewater man appeals ruling after beating by Mountie.. A Mahone Bay man who suffered a "severe beating" from a Mountie is appealing his conviction for assaulting the officer, calling the ruling unreasonable.. >>>more

Province sued by broadband firm... the now-defunct tech firm which built then abandoned the broadband service for Caledonia in Queens County is suing the province for using their "exclusive property" in designing the model fort he recent province-wide broadband initiative. >>> more

Hospital bracing for loss of another doctor... Roseway Hospital and many of her patients will be struggling after physician Ruby Lewis closes her practice and moves to Ontario at the end of April.  >>> more

Bridgewater angry at police in teen murder case... Frustration and anger has gripped this South Shore Nova Scotia town as residents look for answers in the killing of 12-year-old Karissa Boudreau >>> more

Barrington funeral on Tuesday for Karissa Boudreau... Funeral arrangements have now been made for 12-year-old Karissa Boudreau, the little girl who was found murdered in Bridgewater last weekend. >>>more

Mom and dad questioned in Bridgewater teen murder?... The tragic killing of Karissa Boudreau remains unsolved, at least for the time being.
     Police arrested two people Thursday in the death of the 12-year-old Bridgewater girl but released them Friday without laying any charges. By law, an arrested person can’t be held for more than 24 hours unless charges are laid.  >>> The Herald 
Grandparents say they know who was arrested, but were told not to divulge who suspects are... >>> The Herald  Mom's boyfriend shaken by murder... >>> The Herald  >>> Canadian Press video   >>> National Post  sct16feb08

Enough is enough in the Digby Neck quarry fight... divide and conquer strategy not welcome in Bilcon's fight to overturn panel decision  >>> more

More court time for eBay land sellers... lawyers for Carmen & Kevin Blinn and Jon and Sadie Smith faced off in Supreme Court Friday at a hearing before Justice Susan Hood about who was representing the mysterious Mr. Blinn in the proceedings.
     The Smiths have sued the Blinns and a numbered company for fraudulent and deceptive sales practices in at least three eBay land deals in Yarmouth and Cape Breton. 
     The Blinns lawyer, Stephanie Atkinson of Burchell MacDougall, says she no longer represents Kevin Blinn and will file documents with the court to that effect. The Smith's lawyer, Michelle Kelley of Cox Palmer, says she now hopes that the case might go to trial in the fall. The suits began in late 2006. 
     Another Burchell MacDougall lawyer, Gary Richard, is on record as representing Kevin Blinn in a series of one year-old defamation allegations and suits relating to the couple's eBay real estate sales in Port Clyde. Richard has not filed any notice with the court that he no longer represents Mr. Blinn in those actions.
     None of allegations in any of the cases has been proven in court.  sct16feb08

Not enough evidence for  trial in Black Loyalist firebombing... A Shelburne County man who was accused of setting fire to the headquarters of the Black Loyalist Heritage Society in in Birchtown near Shelburne will not go to trial.
     The Crown entered a stay of proceedings Thursday on a charge of arson against Gaylord Avery Perry. Local RCMP did not accumulate adequate evidence to pursue charges, according to Crown prosecutor.
     "Considering the evidence that was available, I wasn’t satisfied that it was appropriate to continue at this stage," Jim Fyfe told The Herald after court on Wednesday.  >>> more   sct16feb08

Dishing dirt in Barrington.... land developer Ken Anthony is waiting to see who will take the lead in clearing up the contaminated soil from near his new apartment development on the former High School site in Barrington Passage.
    "I've cleaned up two smaller messes myself to the tune of $45,000, but enough is enough," Anthony told SCT. The Municipality of Barrington recently rejected a request from Tri-County Reginal School Board to cost-share the cleanup. 
     "Under the law, we have a right to presume that the District was giving us uncontaminated land when they turned the site over," said a muni official. 
     The contamination is likely to be fuel oil, according to Anthony. If the matter is not resolved soon, the builder said, "It will be going to the lawyers."
     Anthony has signed deals for 16 of the apartments to be occupied within a couple of months and is also adding commercial space to the project sct14feb08 

Energy Minister pursues Georges Bank oil exploration... Energy Minister (and Yarmouth MLA) Richard Hurlburt told meetings of the Tory faithful and oil and gas executives that the fishery could coexist on Georges Bank and that "It’s safe to do drilling in our offshore," Mr. Hurlburt said.
    Hurlburt says he will spearhead the government's push to overturn the current exploration moratorium, while the Ecology Action Centre and Shelburne County MLA Sterling Belliveau have protested the "new policy direction" for the energy department and government.  >>> The Herald
    Georges Bank is part of the Gulf of Maine and is off the southern tip of Nova Scotia near Yarmouth. The US Geological Survey describes parts of the Georges Banks as "important habitat for the spawning and survival of several fishery species".
     The New England-based Conservation Law Foundation has warned that, despite the moratorium, the region "continues to be targeted by the oil and gas industry and other pro-drilling interests".    

eBay land sales team buys back foreclosed lot... Wednesday's Sherrif's auction in Shelburne saw Carmen Blinn buy back a foreclosed lot from her Seaside Breezes development in Port Clyde for close to $2,900. Blinn's numbered company had foreclosed on Stephen Rowe from the USA after he explained to them that he could no longer meet the payments.
    Prior to the auction, Blinn argued in the courtroom with the Sheriff about who was the rightful owner of the land, with the Sheriff saying the numbered company and Blinn saying the mortgager. In the end, it was disclosed that the the mortgager is the same numbered company.
    Blinn's attorney Stephanie Atkinson wrote to the Sheriff claiming that there was no HST due on the sale. According to provincial records, the numbered company is headquartered in Burchell MacDougall law offices in Truro.
    The 2.3 acre lot originally sold for $10,000, with $15,000 now being sought for similar lots on the Blinn's web site. The numbered company and Carmen Blinn are plaintiffs in two defamation suits and, with husband Kevin Blinn, are defendants in two defamation and one consolidated fraud suit regarding sales practices over eBay for the Port Clyde land and other properties. sct14feb08 

49 more jobs to go at Bowater Mersey?... A move to cut 49 positions at Bowater Mersey Paper Company Ltd. is literally rolling along the employee line with probable job losses at the end, says Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Local 141 President Courtney Wentzell  >>> more

Farmed salmon killing wild species...  Salmon farming operations have reduced wild salmon populations by up to 70 per cent in several areas around the world and are threatening the future of the endangered stocks, according a new scientific study.  >>> more

Politics and law trumping growth for SouthWest Nova... lawyers, godfathers, government money, hangups and politics... Clarks Harbour mayor says Shelburne County is getting the shaft again... more on the disappearing $750,000 from Jim Meeks at The Herald   >>> more

Yarmouth area gets $150,000 in tourism boost... the Yarmouth and Acadian Shores tourism area will get a big boost from ACOA, the Nova Scotia government and SWSDA to develop a long-term tourism plan for the region.
     "The federal government, through ACOA, recognizes the potential for tourism in Yarmouth and the Acadian Shores region as well as the contribution this industry makes to the economy of southwest Nova Scotia. A long-term strategy [will] ensure a vibrant future for communities," said Peter MacKay, Minister of the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
     The provincial government and ACOA are each contributing $67,500 to the $150,000 project. The South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA will contribute $15,000.
     "This funding is a continuation of our support for the tourism industry in the Yarmouth and Acadian Shores region," said Bill Dooks, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "The long-term plan we're funding will be strategic and customer focused, and it will draw on the rich cultural heritage of this beautiful part of Nova Scotia to bring more visitors here."
      Recent news stories have detailed the challenges the Yarmouth and the South Shore have faced with the past year's dwindling tourism numbers, and modified ferry service and some operators in the area have high hopes that a long-term plan will add to the region's tourism viability.
     Bob Benson, owner of Churchill Mansion appreciates the need and wisdom of long-term planning, but also sees the need for immediate action. "Lots of places are for sale and tourism workers are leaving the area," Benson told SCT. "We are losing our tourism infrastructure and we need help now."    sct11feb08

Base instincts.... The purchase and sale agreement has been signed, money has changed hands and producer Steve Gilmour is set to begin production on Moon Harvest there in March...  Gilmour and Jim Hendrick of New Hampshire met with SWSDA execs today to discuss the timelines involved in the $2.75 million real estate transaction and, from all reports, it was a veritable lovefest.
    Gilmour, head of Atlantic Film Studios, is eager to begin production on the film written by Clare Bourke-Jones. "We're off to the races now," Gilmour added, "and we expect smooth sailing after some earlier bumps in the road." sct11feb08

Nova Scotia Music maven to program concerts at Bowood... former TV host and East Coast Music Awards chair Stephen Antle, has been solicited by Ralston MacDonnell to produce a series of events at Bowood (former Boy's School).
     Muscian Antle, one of the founders of the famed Stan Rogers Folk Festival, has ambitious plans for the site, including shows in the 150-seat theatre, 800 seat former gym and 5,000-person outdoor square off Commission Street.
     Folk hero Bruce Guthro is slated for two shows this season, with possible appearances by Lennie Gallant, Jill Barber and others. The affable Antle also discussed tentative plans to have a Francophone/Acadian-flavoured event, featuring big-name regional performers.
    Antle will be meeting with community and cultural groups as he works to integrate the Bowood programming into the existing cultural landscape. One possibility discussed was the reprise of the former Shelburne Jazz & Blues Festival, turned away by The Osprey in 2006 after four years of operation.
     "With the surprising and unqualified success of StanFest," said Antle, "there's no reason Shelburne couldn't have a similar experience with the right programming and promotion." sct11feb08

I'm in!!... Mayor's race sees first salvo with announcement by P.G. Comeau...  in a somewhat surprising announcement in the middle of Wednesday's Town Council meeting, Mayor P.G. Comeau announced that he would offer again as mayor of Shelburne in October elections.
     The early announcement by the savvy politician is seen by some pol-watchers as a preemptive strike at any number of others who seemed poised to take on the veteran campaigner.
     Also rumoured to be considering a run to be named "his or her worship" are councilors Al Delaney and Elizabeth Acker, deputy mayor Tony Mahaney, former port boss Donnie Acker and former Chamber prez Elizabeth Rhuland. A crowded field is generally seen as plus for the "no holds barred" style of Comeau's electioneering.
     Past elections have been fraught with no little controversy, including claims of polling booth irregularities and a series of "sure thing" ferry announcements, which turned to dust in post election. sct07feb07 

Councilor and warden rants hallmark (again) of Municipal Council meeting... During a discussion of the proposed move by the Muni offices to Ralston MacDonnell's charming wooded glen of Bowood, councilor Rayond Davis raged that it was "those crazy meetings" that made him agree not to consider the move until fiscal 2008-2009 budget discussions.
     Davis was reminded by former deputy warden John Roscoe that  councilors  had promised rate-payers to hold off on any move votes until this spring. "I will be voting against it," said Roscoe. Davis is on record as having made previous votes just to "shut up" certain councilors.
     The move to Bowood is the brainchild of out-going CAO Reg Ridgely, who, some months ago,  had invited MacDonnell to an unagended and unannounced visit with the Council to give his latest slide show pitch about the move. Ridgely's presentation last week was mostly an amalgam of MacDonnell's slides, with a smattering of largely unreadable and not-too-very-relevant-to-the-circumstances-here news clippings tossed in. Middle school book report grade = C-.
     In a common tableau reminiscent of Thanksgiving dinners long past, and as is often the case at council meetings, Davis was being gently (and sometimes covertly) nudged into some semblance of public self-control by Ridgely and tablemates. 
     The Council requested staff to re-visit the issue and prepare a solid report. The previous report more than a year ago by a staff committee had the decaying buildings falling in on themselves and suffering the ignoble fortune of being razed by dozers if the Munis did not move into the site immediately. 
     Not to be outdone and apparently being incensed by the lack of respect afforded her in her role as warden, Paulette Scott took her council to the collective woodshed. Citing behaviour at Council and elsewhere, warden Scott had at 'em. 
     In what would be reserved for a more private and guarded down-dressing of her wards and colleagues by a more politic and statesmanlike headmistress, Scott openly criticized the real or imagined  transgressions of her councilmates. Given the consistently egregious behaviour of Davis, it came as a surprise to many in the room that the usually-composed and decidedly civil  Sherm Embree was singled out for the dastardly crime of "eye-rolling" during one of Davis' oratorial expostulations. 
     The public attending, nor her fellow councilors (with possibly two exceptions) were not amused.  (story based on Coast Guard reports and interviews with attendees).sct5feb08

Business lands in Shelburne with Loyalist celebrations

The Loyalist Landing “celebration to remember” has proven to be a good one for local businesses, especially in relation to the “signature” weekends in Shelburne in July. The thousands of people who flocked to the waterfront and other areas of town over the three weekends left in good spirits and left some considerable cash behind them.

The community celebrations planned by the LL2008 Committee were designed mostly to celebrate the Loyalist heritage of the area, but economic benefit was also a consideration. Alan Reid, owner of the Sea Dog Saloon, saw a visible increase in his business during the three weekends in July, but especially during the Grand Reenactment weekend. In part because of his sponsorship of the 18^th century tavern abutting the Sea Dog, Reid’s saloon also became the “home away from home” for thirsty reenactors.

The Waterfront Weekend was crammed with dozens of events in many locations, culminating in a stellar fireworks show. Food vendors on the waterfront did a steady business during the days and some also had good evening sales. Fireworks shows do not typically generate much other retail sales, as most attendees have supper at home and drive in just for the show.

Water Street and historic district merchants reported increased sales during all three weekends and Suzanne Mahaney of the Loyalist Landing Committee reported in an email that the group had achieved its projected attendance numbers and all area restaurants “cheerfully reported excellent business”.

For the museums, the Grand Reenactment Weekend delivered a double whammy in attendance and sales. “We had the most attendance and sales at our museums in a decade during that weekend,” says Louise Lindsay, president of the Shelburne Historical Society. Because of the influx that weekend especially in visitors from away, including almost all of the reenactors from the USA , some accommodations operators also reported they were completely booked for that weekend.

One residual effect will certainly be the economic spin off from the wealth of media coverage of the weekends. “We really had no way of knowing that there would be so much attention paid to our reenactment,” says Bob Guay, Commander of the 3^rd New Jersey Volunteers regiment and president of the Shelburne Reenactment Association. “The incredible NBC Today Show segment was seen by five million people in the U.S. and we are still getting calls about it,” Guay adds. The Grand Reenactment weekend was also featured in several Coast Guard features, a live, three-hour CBC radio broadcast, a Halifax Herald feature story and in several nationally broadcast ATV segments.  

“This sort of major regional, national and international media attention can have a dramatic effect on local tourism businesses the following year and for years to come, “ says Elizabeth Rhuland, former president of the Shelburne & Area Chamber of Commerce and a tourism product development specialist. “The fact that so many out-of-town visitors and major media outlets found the historical reenactments attractive should be exploited in this region.”

The Loyalist Landing events continue with the history-themed Whirligig & Weathervane Festival on September 20 & 21 and a Loyalist Christmas and New Year’s eve ball. Timothy Gillespie is a Shelburne-based writer who has written business and feature stories for magazines and newspapers in Canada and the U.S.

12aug2008: Writers fest coming to Shelburne.... Shelburne will be home to its first Writers Festival this weekend, featuring award-winning poet Alex Pierce and a bevy of other notables, reading at venues including the Osprey Theatre, the Clamshell Ampitheatre, Muir-Cox Shipyard, Guild Hall and Charlotte Lane Cafe.
     Pierce is a Sable River native whose poetry will be featured in the upcoming "Best Canadian Poetry". On Sunday at 1:00pm, she read from “To Float, to Drown, to Close Up, to Open – A Throat”, which was written with support from the Shelburne County Arts Council.
    Other participants include Don Hannah, Marq deVilliers, Darcy Rhyno, Elizabeth Peirce, Susan Hoover, David Adams Richards, Lee Keating, Peter Healy & Hattie Perry.  >>> full story here   

12aug2008: $1.7 million to Southwest Nova projects... three Southwest Nova Scotia communities will benefit from safer drinking water and improved storm water systems thanks to a shared investment by three levels of government.
    Federal, provincial and municipal funding of more than $1.7 million for projects in Digby, Hebron and Yarmouth was announced August 12, in Truro by Karen Casey, Minister of Education, on behalf of Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations and Peter MacKay, Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. 

12aug2008: Supreme Court says accountant must turn over private file in SWSDA-OPI case... Justice Glen McDougall has ordered KPMG accountant Mary Jane Andrews to supply both parties in an ongoing and complex lawsuit with the basis of her projections for 2004 losses suffered by Ocean Produce International at the former CFB Shelburne in a breach of contract suit against Southwest Shore Development Authority which has been ongoing for many years.
     Andrews was an expert witness previously in the suit. The working papers include in part, confidential, hand-written notes about six-year projections for average growth for Acadian Seaplants, a KPMG client. The judge opined that the material "forms part of the essential facts on which [Andrews'] opinion is based."
      A trial date for the case is expected to be announced later this month.

1aug2008: Black Loyalists 225 celebrations feature Freedom Schooner Amistad.... the Black Loyalist Heritage Society and various celebrated the 225th anniversary of the Black Loyalists landing in Nova Scotia in 1783 with a successful three-day, family-friendly celebration including a welcoming ceremony attended by former Premiers John Hamm and Russell McLellan, tours and youth sailings on the Freedom Schooner Amistad... community breakfasts, dance party, outdoor market and community reception at the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club. 

11aug2008: Seven nabbed by DFO in Yarmouth... Department of Fisheries and Oceans has made arrests and is laying charges in connection with two alleged incidents in Yarmouth harbour of fishing untagged lobster traps and fishing during a closed time. >>> more

11Aug2008: Loyalist play "New Hope" a grand success in Digby...“Charming, authentic and well thought out” were words used to describe the loyalist play ‘A New Hope’ presented Aug. 6-7 to packed audiences by the Digby and Area Theatre Society as part of the 225th anniversary celebrations during Scallop Days. >>> Digby Courier

4aug2008: Digby ferry gets 2-year lifeline with $15 million boost... The ferry service between Digby and Saint John was given a two-year reprieve on Friday with the announcement of an additional $15 million in federal and provincial money. 
     The provinces will kick in $2 million each and the government of Canada will invest $11.1 million to help keep it running until 2011. $3 million is for upgrades to the Digby Wharf. This brings the total invested by government in the private ferry service to $23 million since 2006.  >>> more 

4aug2008: Black Loyalists to celebrate 225 years with Freedom Schooner Amistad visit.... the Black Loyalist Heritage Society will celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Black Loyalists landing in Nova Scotia in 1783 with a three-day, family-friendly event featuring the Freedom Schooner Amistad... >>> more  

4aug2008: Nursing home replacement for Yarmouth... The Villa St. Joseph-du-Lac, which now houses 79 people, will be replaced in 2011... >>> more

31july2008: No science to support grey seal cull in Southwest Nova... despite the alarmist Kill the Seals!!! headline today in a local political blog, The Herald reports today that there appears to be no science supporting the need for a cull of seals in the region.
     Bedford Institute research scientist Don Bowen says that the main source of food for the grey seal is the sand lance, a small forage fish that is eaten by "most things in the ocean." No evidence in hand suggests a threat to ground fish, as cod makes up only 2% of the seal diet.  >>> The Herald

31july2008: Muni council debates SWSDA cash... the Shelburne Municipal Council considered Monday night the recent request from SWSDA for a $10,000 "repayable grant" to bolster the line of credit for the regional RDA.
     Warden Sherm Embree described the grant alternately as risky and very risky, as the repayment is wholly dependant upon a change in the Municipalities Act being considered in the fall sitting of the legislature. "I don't think that will pass," deputy warden Pat Nickerson told her council. The changes would also make SWSDA comply with freedom of information laws, a matter which is currently before the supreme court in Nova Scotia.
     The staff recommendation was to approve the grant, based on the rationale, said CAO Kirk Cox, that "all of the other parties have done so." Councilor Terry McIntyre said that the grant "might be throwing $10,000 out the window."
     Former warden Paulette Scott said that all of the other SWSDA partners had committed loans and Shelburne would have to "pay to play" if we wanted development projects in the area. Council deferred a decision to September.
     In other business... Tri-County Schools chief Phil Landry did not appear for a scheduled presentation on education funding inequities by the province. Council approved an additional $2500 grant for insurance for the proposed public swimming pool at SeaCoast Entertainments (former CFS Shelburne).
    Editors note: with a solid financial base, with highly-paid clerk and CAO and ample support staff, with some councilors encouraging public attendance at meetings, wouldn't you think that the municipality would bother to print more than 4 agendas for use by the public and media? At a cost of about $.02 per, I would. TG 

30july2008: Roseway emergency to close 12 days in August... citing physician unavailability, Roseway Hospital in Shelburne announced today that the emergency room will be closed almost 40% of the days in August. 
      Hospital administration suggests patients with emergency matters travel to Yarmouth or Liverpool for treatment on those days. Digby ER will be closed seven days in August.

24july2008: Muni Councilor Davis ditched in Hubbards, sent for psych assessment... Shelburne Municipal councilor Raymond Davis appeared in court Wednesday on charges of dangerous driving and fleeing police and was remanded to psychiatric assessment by the court. He is due in court August 20.
     Davis, who has been the subject of much controversy recently regarding his erratic behaviour during council meetings and elsewhere, spent the night in jail in Bridgewater.
     When contacted by SCT, warden Sherm Embree said that Davis had the "hopes, prayers and well wishes" of his council and that, with the support of his family, Davis might look for a speedy recovery. >>> more

24july2008: Dam neighbors!!... seems like a neighborhood fracas is brewing over a pond drained by volunteers trying to improve the trail system in the Sable River  area... >>> see Coast Guard story.  Apparently, the pond has quickly regained its aqueous composure.  Listen to CBC Maritime Noon interviews with Shem Embree and Janet Taylor (go to "Rails to Trails") >>> click here

23july2008: $50,000 sole-source, untendered contract from DFO in area 29 scallop survey... on July 18 the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) published its intention to deliver a sole-source "directed" contract for up to $50,000 to O'Neil Fisheries of Digby for a survey of the disputed Area 29 scallop population. Other vendors have until August 1 to dispute the contract or compete for the project... >>> read the DFO tender 

23july2008: So sue me!! Ralston MacDonnell and Bowood sued by lawyers for non-payment.... Halifax lawyer Fergus Ford has sued Ralston MacDonnell, MacDonnell's wife and Bowood Corporation for $3,422.00 in unpaid legal bills arising from MacDonnell's controversial acquisition of the former Shelburne Youth Centre (Boy's School).
     Ford's numbered company filed the suit in Halifax Supreme Court (SH 298765) on Monday. None of the allegations have been proven in court. 

23july2008: Grand Reenactment biggest ever... Brigade says YES! to Shelburne.... Shelburne was alive with 18th Century living history this past weekend and more than 100 historical reenactors and many hundreds of locals and visitors filled the town with parades, marches, musket battles, harbour skirmishes, cannon fusillades and costume presentations.
    Hundreds of people flocked to the waterfront on Friday and Saturday to watch the harbour skirmish and landing reenactment. The "son et lumiere" show on Friday included a scripted narration, longboat battle, privateers and Kings Forces firing upon each other on the waterfront, backed by a sophisticated soundscape.
    Saturday's landing included a narration of the era's history and the "landing" of black and white loyalists. In a coup for Shelburne's 3rd New Jersey Volunteers, the Brigade of the American Revolution (B.A.R.) awarded the regiment full probationary status, the first time in the 30-year history of the B.A.R that such an award was made on site during the weekend.
    The great majority of B.A.R. executives were at the Grand Reenactment all weekend and, said one official, "We could not be more impressed than we are with how well the 3rd New Jersey performed this weekend." 

15july2008: Keddy emerging as "heavyweight" in fishing dispute?...  South Shore political news sources say that MP Gerald Keddy is using his new heft in Ottawa to intervene in the lobster and scallop dispute in Area 29 and that Keddy's actions will "get results for local lobster fishermen." 
     The reports say that Keddy and federal fisheries minister Loyola Hearn are close to a deal which would restrict the Full Bay fleet in Area 29, despite the difficulty the two are having getting DFO officials on side. The "deal" is expected to include more quota for the Full Bay Scallop fleet in other areas, but they will lose their access to area 29.

13july2008: Waterfront weekend draws crowds to Shelburne... the first of three Loyalist Landing celebration weekends drew hundreds of people to the Shelburne waterfront over the weekend, as harbour cruises, entertainment, longboat launching and arts and crafts sales offered a wide variety of things to do and see.
     Next weekend is the Grand Reenactment and Town Criers Competititon and the weekend following is Founders' Days. see photo essay from Waterfront Weekend HERE 

13july2008: Keddy, MacKay, MacDonald announce nearly $1 billion in offshore accords funds today... at a news conference in Halifax on Sunday, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Premier Rodney MacDonald announced announced the resolution of an outstanding obligation respecting the province's Crown Share Adjustment Payments for oil and gas projects in the Nova Scotia offshore. The resolution was proposed by an independent panel and is expected to result in $866 million-plus to Nova Scotia from the federal government. 
     South Shore MP Gerald Keddy introduced the premier at the event. Keddy took much heat politically months ago for backing the Harper government when independent MP Bill Casey voted against budget which Casey claimed left Nova Scotia out in the cold financially. Today's announcement will seem to many a vindication of Keddy's support of PM Stephen Harper. Central Nova MP, and now Defence Minister, Peter MacKay also backed Harper's position at the time. 

12july2008: 2nd Loyalist longboat launch a grand success... the second of Shelburne's stunning, new, 18th century longboats was launched on the Historic Waterfront Friday, in a traditional ox-drawn trip from building shed to launch site.
    The boat is one of two built over the past months under the direction of Bill Cox and Jim Mahaney, with support of the Loyalist Landing Society. The launch and christening included society officials and other notables, including Shelburne mayor P,.G. Comeau, MLA Sterling Belliveau and MP Gerald Keddy.
     18th century characters from the Loyalist Landing Grand Reenactment Weekend, including the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers, King's Orange Rangers, Prince of Wales Historic Dancers and the Brigade of the American Revolution added pomp and ceremony to the event. See the boat in Loyalist Landing re-creation on NBC Today Show HERE. See the boat in action (Longboats and Red Coats) during recent film shoot HERE (shot by Rick Davis).  see photo essay from Waterfront Weekend HERE 

10july2008: Keddy working to resolve lobster/scallop issue... South Shore MP Gerald Keddy seems to be working feverishly to calm the waters in the dispute between lobster fishermen and scallop draggers in Area 29.
     Keddy reportedly told close to 100 lobster fishermen gathered in Barrington that he's working towards getting them an audience with federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn. Full Bay Scallop Association head Dick Stewart says that his group has met with Keddy also and feels that the MP will do whatever he can to seek a resolution to the matter.   >>> more

10july2008: South Shore songwriter vies for "Hockey Theme Idol"... Yarmouth-based songwriter James Ogden has entered at least two songs in the national CBC competition for a new theme song for Hockey Night in Canada.
     Ogden, who is also a minister, previously operated a Shelburne-based internet radio station, has recently been a finalist in a country music song competition in Nashville, Tennessee. The songs can be heard on CBC's contest web site. Hear Slapshot2   Hear Drop That Puck

9july2008: Gold and glory for dory women... A Clarks Harbour dory racing team edged out Gloucester for first in the women’s division at the International Dory Races between the United States and Canada on June 21. >>> more

7july2008: Jordan Falls fire suspicious says RCMP...  The cause of a fire that consumed between 300 and 400 hectares of woodland near the Wentworth and Lake John Road in Jordan Falls is being considered suspicious by police and Natural Resources officers.  >>> more

6july2008: NBC Today show coverage boosts Shelburne web traffic by 200%... the July 4th airing of a segment on NBC Today Show featuring the Loyalist beginnings of Shelburne resulted in a dramatic upswing in web activity to the major tourism and news web sites servicing the area.
      www.ShelburneNovaScotia.com and www.ShelburneCountyToday.com each recorded a doubling of their daily visitor traffic on the day of the airing and immediately following. The web site for the Loyalist Landing 2008 Reenactment also saw a spike in traffic. At least 50% of the visits to the news site were based on web searches for "Benedict Arnold" or "3rd New Jersey Volunteers", both featured in the segment.
     A special local web page created for the event features a link to the video and photos of the filming by local photographers. The Today Show averages 5 million viewers and a senior official with NBC Today said that the video of the show was the most watched video on the web site on July 4. The site has 9 million visitors a year. 

6july2008: Keddy meets with lobster fisherman... wants to set up meeting with federal fisheries minister... Conservative MP Gerald Keddy told close to 100 fishermen gathered to meet with him at the Cape Sable Island causeway Thursday afternoon that he's working towards getting them an audience with federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn.    >>> more

5jul2008: Community meeting for future of Cox Warehouse in Shelburne... a joint Shelburne Historical Society / Town of Shelburne committee is hosting a meeting on July 10 at 7:00pm at the King Street Community Centre for public input into the proposal to find uses and developers suitable for the Cox Warehouse in the Historic Waterfront District
     A review of the planned Request for Proposals (RFP) will be part of the meeting, as will a brief overview of the RFP, questions and answers and public input regarding the new development and developer. The RFP can be requested from coxbldg@mac.com or at the Ross-Thomson House Museum on Charlotte Lane.

4july2008: Today Show web log features Shelburne Reenactors and web sites... the web site for NBC Today Show special correspondent Bob Dotson quotes several local reenactors from 3rd New Jersey Volunteers and the Brigade of the American Revolution, plus links to several local web sites, include Destination Shelburne, Historic Shelburne and the Grand Reenactment. Pat Melanson, Lorraine Chapman and Brian Oglvie are quoted on Loyalist history, along with Benedict Arnold's great, great, great grandson, Stephen.
    Bob Dotson's web about the July 4th Special filmed in Shelburne can be seen HERE

4july2008: Budget experts sent to help Tri-County board... Education minister Karen Casey said Thursday she has appointed a three-person team to help the cash-strapped Tri-County regional school board finalize its 2008-09 budget. >>> more

4july2008:  $6.5 million CAT treat not fair says MLA and fishpackers... the $4.4 million from the Economic Development Industrial Development Fund announced Thursday as fuel subsidy for Bay Ferries makes for $6.5 million to date this year and strikes some as unfair.
    Digby-area MLA Junior Theriault and NS Fishpackers exec Denny Morrow say that the Digby-St John run is far more important to industry... >>> more... >>> Thursday's story

3july2008: NBC Today Show set to feature Shelburne and Loyalist Landing actors on July 4 special... America's most popular daytime show will feature reenactors from Shelburne's 3rd New Jersey Volunteers and Liverpool's King's Orange Rangers in a segment of American Stories with Bob Dotson  (see Dotson's web log HERE) on Friday, July 4 on NBC and MSNBC during the 8:00am hour (9:00am across Canada and USA)
     The show traces Benedict Arnold to Nova Scotia and features his great, great, grandson, Stephen. Also featured is the new longboat built for the Loyalist Landing events. see Bob Dotson's website HERE. see photos of TV shoot HERE... see Loyalist Landing Grand Reenactment HERE. 
     The 3rd New Jersey and longboat were filmed this past week for a TV feature about the Acadian Expulsion.

3july2008: Privateer Days almost upon us.... traditionally one of the South Shore's most satisfying summer events, the Annual Privateers Days gets underway this weekend in Liverpool. Featuring music (Matt Minglewood!), games, a parade and historic encampment with the King's Orange Rangers and others, the event is a family crowd-pleaser.  >>> see web here

2july2008: Lobster fishers to meet with Keddy... Lobster fishermen are being urged to attend a meeting Thursday afternoon in Barrington Passage, according to reports on CJLS Radio
     The report says South Shore M-P Gerald Keddy has agreed to meet with fishermen who are protesting against the presence of scallop draggers on their lobster grounds. They say the draggers are ruining the fishery. They say this is a particularly sensitive time as lobsters are molting. 
     Protest spokesperson Heather Stewart told CJLS that it is important for all lobster fishermen to show up tomorrow to show unity. Thursday's meeting with Gerald Keddy takes place at 2pm on the Barrington side of the Cape Sable Island Causeway. (Tim Horton's parking lot.)

30june2008: Lockeport daycare says web report about violations makes things look worse... About 50 daycares around Nova Scotia have been cited for violations of the Day Care Act and violations are listed on a new provincial website.
     As of June 25, the Fox and the Hare in Lockeport had the highest number of violations with 16 and has until July 31 to correct them. Little People's Place in Shelburne and Huggy Bears in Barrington are listed with no violations... >>> more 

29june2008: Shelburne redcoats and longboat featured in another film... the redcoats and civilians of the the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers reenactment group, plus the coxswain and crew of Shelburne's star longboat were featured in yet another film project over the weekend.
     3RB Productions and producer Steve Mckinnon from New Brunswick were in town to shoot scenes for "Spirit Cove", a two-hour, made for TV feature film about the Acadian expulsion. Members of the 3rd New Jersey portrayed British and French soldiers and fleeing Acadian civilians.
     Local filmmaker Rick Davis was also on the set shooting specialty footage. Davis, a longtime veteran in the field,  has recently started Fireworx Media a film, video and web-specialty firm.
     Filming will continue in Caraquet and Miramachi.

29june2008:  Visitors to the Hank Snow Museum find out just how big a star we really was... museum featured in Toronto Star... >>> more

29june2008:  Vampire film to be shot in Shelburne...  Halifax film maker Paul Kimball plans to bring his cast and crew to Shelburne in August to shoot portions of Eternal Kiss, written and directed by Kimball and produced by his Halifax-based Red Star Films. The feature film stars Halifax talents Christina Cuffari, Vanessa Furlong, Amy Kerr, and Elizabeth Langstrom.
     The plot, according to Kimball, involves an evil female vampire who owns a sound stage in a small, rural town. "The Sea Coast Studios sound stage and Shelburne are a perfect fit," Kimball told SCT. The film is budgeted at $500,000 to $750,000.
     Kimball's previous projects include Synchronicity (Bravo - 2008) and Best Evidence: Top 10 UFO Sightings (Space, TVNZ - 2007). He produced the 1996 New Frontiers Symposium:Extraterrestrial Life, Space Exploration, & The Future and was a featured speaker at UFO Retro 3 in Yucca Valley, California.  He is a regular columnist in Alien Worlds Magazine. UFO interview with Kimball HERE. See sample of Best Evidence HERE  See another sample of Kimball's work HERE . See Kimball's Red Star website HERE.
    "Anne MacKenzie of Film Nova Scotia suggested Shelburne over coffee one day," adds Kimball. "I called the new owners that day and here we are." The regional development authority and CEO Frank Anderson have been very helpful, says Kimball. 
    Kimball has a distribution deal in place for Kiss and also plans to film his next project here, for which he has full financing in hand from an American firm. Plans are also underway to adapt Kimball's play Doing Time, to the screen, starring Cuffari, who will appear in a Boulder (Colorado) International Fringe Festival production of the piece in August.

29june2008: More good news for Shelburne County... in less than a months time, an up-start media venture has been launched in the area, purporting to counter the prevalence of "lousy-news" media. Called "Nova Scotia South Shore Good Times: Enjoying Life from Yarmouth to Mahone Bay", the eight-page newsprint tab was direct-delivered into mailboxes Friday.
    The give-away shows no indication of publisher or printer, as is the norm, but a front-page message from "Jimmy Kendrick's messy desk", a lovelorn advice column from "Mary & Jimmy" and a full-page ad for their new meat market, would seem to peg it from SeaCoast Entertainments,  new owners of the former base and sound stage in Sandy Point.
     Less than a month ago, a Shelburne County News blog erupted claiming also to be an antidote to the prevalence of negativism hereabouts. The blog alternates from kudos to local pols to slamming local activists, but is a welcome addition to the local news-o-sphere. Jump in boys and girls, the media waters run deep.

7june2008: OUCH!... MacDonald slams minister in ATV debacle... Premier Rodney MacDonald is back-peddling faster than a Cirque du Soleil star to distance himself from the $260k ATVs-for-Tots program announced recently by Barry Barnet... >>> more

27june2008: No Power to the people for 13 years... "This is not in the middle of nowhere," says Shelburne Muni CAO Kirk Cox, as he  questions provincial government decision to charge homeowners in Upper Ohio more than $11,000 for an power line easement in order for the long-overdue installation pf electrical power... >>> more

27june2008  Two blazes still rampaging in Shelburne County... Water tankers from Quebec and New Brunswick are aiding local fire crews in battling fires in Jordan Falls and Upper Clyde...  >>>more

27june2008: Shelburne cadet places 4th in national competition... Warrant Officer Arthur Melanson of 738 Kingsmill Squadron, Shelburne, recently travelled to Quebec City, where he was a national finalist in the Effective Speaking Competition. 
     Young Melanson placed 4th and broke two records for the local squadron, being the first local cadet to win regional and provincial titles. Melanson received a beautiful engraved watch for his 4th place finish.  He will be attending Memorial University this fall, enrolled in the engineering program. 

27june2008: Lobster fisherman "trapped" with $9,000 fine... A Shelburne County lobster fisherman caught cheating just three days into last fall’s lobster season was fined $9,000 for loading nine untagged lobster traps onto his boat at a wharf in Woods Harbour. >>> more 

27june2008: DFO "on a roll" in fisheries enforcement... From fines in the tens of thousands of dollars, to an historic sized bust of undersized lobsters, DFO enforcement officials in southwestern Nova Scotia have, in the words of one of their own, been on a roll. >>> more

26june2008: MD dearth aiding out-migration... PEI docs says lack of physicians in rural Atlantic Canada is encouraging young families to leave small towns... >>> more 

26june2008: Ferry key to business sustainability... The end of June signals the deadline for a federal announcement on a plan to keep the link between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick across the Bay of Fundy  >>>more

26june2008: Pound sand - and lobsters - say scallop draggers...  Poaching removes a far greater number of lobsters from the sea than incidental catches by scallop draggers, a scallop industry representative said Wednesday.
     "They caught one lobster poacher with 5,300 (illegal) lobsters and that’s just the tip of the iceberg," Dick Stewart said, referring to the arrest last month in Yarmouth County of a suspected lobster poacher. >>> more

24june2008: Catastrophic outcome forecast by some in fisheries from rising fuel costs...  representatives from southwestern Nova Scotia have approached the provincial government about a study on the impact of rising fuel costs on the fishing industry  >>> more

24june2008: Medical small equipment loan service ends in Lockeport...With the retirement this month of long-time volunteer June Williams, the Canadian Red Cross has closed a small health equipment loan depot it had operated in space provided by the Home Hardware store in Lockeport.
     "For the past 11 years, June Williams voluntarily coordinated our Health
Equipment Loan Program in Lockeport," said Amy Crane of the Canadian Red
Cross regional service centre in Yarmouth. "Having a small HELP depot in
their community was a definite convenience for Lockeport residents, and
we extend a heartfelt thanks to June for having provided this valuable
service."

24june2008: Yarmouth Development Corp pushes for waterfront site for arts centre... It's beginning to look like the debate about the location of a new arts centre is going to go the way of a death scene in a melodramatic play — long and painful.  >>> more

24june2008: Good news for Digby ferry... An announcement about the Digby-Saint John ferry is coming within weeks, says an Economic Development Department spokesman.
    At a news conference Monday Digby MLA and liberal tourism critic Harold “Junior” Theriault said, "Losing this vital piece of infrastructure would seal the economic fate of Digby and surrounding communities...   >>> more

23june2008:  Broadband coming to Shelco...High-speed Internet is just up the road for all Shelburne County residents…. >>> more

23june2008: No to draggers... A small group of lobster fishermen gathered beside the Barrington causeway Friday to protest the scallop draggers they feel are damaging lobsters. >>> more

19june2008: South Shore, Southwest are stressed out... Job worries, fuel prices, fishery woes add to misery factor, health survey finds
     One of the most beautiful parts of the province also has more than its share of folks who are just plain stressed out... >>> more

18june2008: NBC Today Show has successful TV shoot in Shelburne...  NBC correspondent Bob Dotson and film crew and producer were in Shelburne this past weekend to shoot a segment for his popular American Story with Bob Dotson, seen regularly on the NBC Today Show.
     5.6 million viewers are expected to see the show when it airs on July 4. The shoot featured local reenactors and the newly-commissioned longboat built for use in the Loyalist Landing 2008 celebrations. The segment will feature in part the Nova Scotia connections of Benedict Arnold, including and interview with his great, great, great grandson, who was in Shelburne for the shooting.
      In addition to featuring more than 20 Loyalist characters (portrayed by Kings Orange Rangers, 3rd New Jersey Volunteers, Prince of Wales Historic Dancers and others in authentic) period dress, the segment will portray the reenactors in camp life, marching, parading and firing muskets. 
     The longboat was featured in a small recreation of the Loyalist Landing, the 225th anniversary of which will be feted during the Great Reenactment Weekend, July 17-20 in Shelburne.  Photos of the TV shoot can be seen here.      
     Recently a CTV TV crew was in Shelburne to film the longboats and later in June, both the longboat and reenactors are to be filmed for a feature film by a production company in New Brunswick.
     The NBC team used the waterfront, Ross Thomson House, Regimental Orderly Room, Sea Dog Saloon and Jane Mason's property for the segments.  Direct economic spinoffs also stem from productions like the NBC shoot. The company paid for 12 room nights at local B&Bs and motels, as well as for  more than 35 meals, including cast and crew. "The total benefit to Shelburne, including the massive exposure we could get to 5 million US viewers, is tremendous," says outgoing Chamber of Commerce president Sam Stewart.
     Both Bob Dotson and NBC producer Amanda Marshall said that, in addition to the town being an "outright gem", the level of cooperation and generosity in Shelburne were extraordinary.   Photos of the TV shoot can be seen here. 

18june2008:  Nova Scotia Power has a new president at the helm... Rob Bennett, who most recently was executive vice-president of revenue and sustainability, was appointed the new head of NSP effective immediately, replacing Ralph Tedesco, the company announced Wednesday morning.... >>> more

18june2008: Yarmouth in "good position" for master port plan, says official... >>> more

18june2008:  Fuel relief could mean more teachers for Tri-County Schools... Superintendent Phil Landry said in Friday that if the province came up with some funds to cover fuel costs, some of the recent classroom teacher cuts could be rescinded...  

Forty two paddlers make Tent Dwellers Festival experience of their own >>> more

18june2008: Green team at Barrington High cleans up... The West Branch of the Barrington River is benefiting from visits by the Barrington Municipal High School Green Team. >>> more

18june2008:... Goofy Golf, drive-in movies, Sea Song Inn open at former base... In stories and ads in the Coast Guard this week, Sea Coast Entertainment announced the opening of the Goofy Golf  mini-putt course and the long-awaited drive-in movie theatre at the former Shelburne Film Studio. 
     A candle factory is due to open next week, with a recording studio and the Sea Song Inn ready to open. Twenty local people are now on staff, according to owner Jim Kendrick. Several acts which in the past would have played at other local venues will be appearing soon at the Sea Song Inn, including the Hupman Brothers, RazzaMaTazz, Troy McGillivray and South Shore Idol. 

12june2008: Gas flows again from Wilsons... prices set to rise to highest ever... Wilson's Fuels is again delivering to rural stations, after refusing fuel earlier in the week, claiming they would suffer a $100,000 loss.
    Local Esso owner John Dexter told CBC Radio Tuesday that Wilson's should "suck it up" and bear part of the costs of the growing fuel crisis... >>> more

12june2008: Grim forecast for Roseway ER... Roseway Hospital execs say public to be shocked number of closures in store during summer... >>> more

12june2008: High costs driving South Shore fishermen to crime... .  >>> more 

10june2008: Welshtown firm wins big brush bid... a $180,000 provincial tender for brush cutting in Hants and Halifax counties was awarded recently to Welshtown Forestry Ltd, owned and operated by Wayne Harris. The only other bid was $79,000 submitted by Black Rock Construction. The local forestry firm has generated $780,000 in winning tenders for brush cutting since 2005. 

9june08: Geocache event may be biggest ever in Maritimes... in a surprise to even the local organizers, the McNutts Island Geocache event on Saturday generated almost 70 participants, making ti the largest event of its kind in Nova Scotia or the Maritimes. 
    The event was planned and sponsored by "The Fearsome 4-Some", using the hobby names of Zipalong, Foggy Hoofer, OhioRider and JoliWanderer. Participants immediately logged onto the Geocaching.com web site to commend the group, with comments such as, " Wow what a great job that was put into this event.", "Just don't think we could say enough about it.", "wonderful to meet so many people", etc.
     Cachers were ferried to the island by Captain Crowell and sons and were hosted in part there by innkeeper (Boulder Cove Cottages) Patsy Van Buskirk. It is estimated that the event generated more than a dozen room nights at local accommodations, in addition to the usual gas, food, and sundries shopping.  see photos to right

4june2008: Province funds Sea Coast Studios purchase for $475,000... Records on file show that the province of Nova Scotia holds a $475,000 mortgage on the former Shelburne Film Studios property in Sandy Point. 
    When the property was sold recently for $2.75 million, it was announced that the previous owner, South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA), was carrying a balance of $1.75 million for two years. SWSDA CEO Frank Anderson told SCT Thursday that the $475,000 was part of the $1.75 million. The local Community Business Development Corporation also had a $50,000 loan against the property. CBDC executive was not available for comment.

4june2008: Lyme disease comes to Gunning Cove... Blacklegged ticks collected from the Gunning Cove area, near Shelburne, have been tested and found to be infected with the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease.
     The ticks were found as part of a provincial surveillance program by the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Health Promotion and Protection, and the Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory... >>> read news release  >>>see web

4june2008: Giant Loyalist yard sale and auction... as one of the premier events sponsored by the Loyalist Landing Society, Shelburne will be the home for a town-wide yard sale on Saturday, from 8:00am to 2:00pm. 
     As part of the fund-raising for the year-long celebrations, the Society's 500 members have donated many treasures, collectibles and interesting items for the Loyalist auction at 2:00pm by B&W Auctions at Cox's Warehouse. >>>see more here

4june2008:  Major geo-caching event slated for McNutts... a small coterie of avid geochachers (see Wikipedia) under the rubric "Fearsome Foursome" are staging one of the largest and most inventive geocach events ever in the Maritimes.
    More than 60 "Cachers" will boat to McNutts on Saturday to locate the dozens of special chaches hidden throughout the historic and storied island. Geocaching is one of the fasted growing hobbies in North America and is becoming a popular tourism draw for some regions.

4june2008: Food flights and fancies in Shelburne County... the ability for residents and visitors to get a good, hot meal in Shelburne County is changing beneath our feet, with closings and openings east to west.
     The assets of the now-defunct Old Schoolhouse Restaurant in Barrington are up for sale, with tender offers being accepted through ads in the papers and the closing of the Loyalist Inn and Shelburne Cafe have left a definite gap on Water Street in Shelburne.
    On a positive note, the former Grub & Grog in Sable River is about to re-open as the Chef's Table, featuring a mostly Italian-continental menu and Gary and June O'Connor, new owners of the Loyalist Inn have great plans there for the hotel and restaurant and pub, with plans to open in the fall.
     The brightest light on the Cuisine scene is the recent opening of Lothar's, in the former Nellie Bly's (Claudia's Diner) on Water Street. The place is bright, modern and elegant, featuring dark wood furniture and beautiful, locally-crafted stained glass and wrought iron fixtures.
     Lothar Mayer's menu is definitely European, with what looks to be an Austrian flavour. The reports from readers have been nothing short of unanimous with praise and this writer recently had what may have been the best breakfast (brunch, really) ever outside my mum's kitchen and the service is uniformly excellent. 
     In a small town whose most well-known restaurant - Charlotte Lane - is a bona fide tourism attraction, and whose last up-scale venture disappeared two years ago, the addition of Lothar's can only serve to increase the impulse by visitors to come into town for a meal. Lothar's is open Thursday through Monday. 

4june2008: Forest fight in Clyde River... lawsuits have been filed in Supreme Court which might force the dissolution of Sutherland Forestry Resources, Ltd, the decades-old forestry company started by R Glen Sutherland and now controlled by a majority of his children.
     S Wayne Sutherland, who says in an affidavit that he has been trying for years to effect a buy-out, is asking the court to allow the sale of his shares, to disclose the financial records for the operation or to liquidate the company and distribute assets.

4june2008: Billy Peterson, ill in Alberta, coming home... the former owner of Lockeport Golden Smokehouses is coming back to Nova Scotia after suffering partial paralysis from the effects of brain tumors and a rare lymphoma, according to reports in The Herald.
     "I just want to come home to see my kids," Peterson told his sister Linda, from a hospital bed in Red Deer, where he moved two years ago after losing his business and marriage here. 

2june2008: $7 million payday for Pubnico wind partners.... Charles Demond, Alistar and Bradford D'Entremont and Jeorg Losse have agreed to a buy-out of their shares in Pubnico Point, the first major wind development in Nova Scotia.
     Demond and company president Losse, through Atlantic Wind Power Corp,  are pursuing other wind projects in the region, including the Nuttby Mountain project which musical diva Anne Murray has said would spoil her view and that of others in scenic cottage country near Truro. 

31may2008:  More legal woes for RDA in Sea Coast Film Studios deal... Claussen Walters Realty has sued the South West Shore Development Authority in Supreme Court in Bridgewater for $275,000, claiming that SWSDA reneged on a written offer to pay a finders fee for the recent sale of the former Canadian Forces station at Sandy Point to U.S.-based magazine publisher Jim Kendrick.
     The suit alleges that a Claussen Walters agent showed the property to a  Kendrick associate and that the agreement (for 10% of the sales price, which was $2.75 million) is in writing. SWSDA's defence says that no such deal exists and that the real estate firm did not show the property. Local broker Al Keith apparently showed the property and received the 10% offer letter.
     Australian film producer Steve Gilmour, who claims to have been ousted from the deal by Kendrick and SWSDA, told SCT that SWSDA chief Frank Anderson told him early on their negotiations for the property that he (Anderson) could not sell it to another party because SWSDA would have to pay a $300,000 fee. 
     SWSDA, Anderson and the property have recently been in the news surrounding questions and court actions regarding funds from the sale of the former Boy's School in Shelburne, the refusal of Anderson to disclose his travel and entertainment expenses and the apparent conflict of interest of SWSDA executive Paulette Scott, who quit as Shelburne Municipal Warden after taking a job as chief financial officer at Sea Coast.  >>> more

2june2008:  Huzzah!! Hoodwinked a natural sellout... Shelburne's Basement Theatre saw packed houses at The Osprey over the weekend for this year's fare, Hoodwinked. The sometimes corny and sometimes riotously funny farce send-up of Robin Hood, et al, by Margaret Carpenter was a treat.
        There were several acting and singing stand-outs, but Luke MacIntosh as the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham was campily evil and clumsy Terry Bower was a pure and absolute hoot. The costumes were quite good and the sets were terrific. Hats - and feathers - off to all!!

2June2008: Loyalist reenactment volunteer meeting... anyone wanting to help out with some vital tasks for the July 17-20 Loyalist Landing reenactment is invited to a brief meeting on Wednesday, June 4 at 7:00pm at Sobeys Community Room on King Street.
     The projects needing support include Friday night's ship skirmish and burning, the Landing recreation on Saturday and some fence building. 

31may2008: Conflict suit dropped against SouthWest Nova tourism exec....  a law suit filed recently against Destination Southwest Nova Scotia Tourism Assoc chief Madonna Spinazola charging conflict of interest has been dropped by a disgruntled landowner in Kentville.
     The suit claimed Spinazola's tourism job was in conflict with a land zoning matter she voted on as a municipal councilor.  In her formal defence, Spinazola denied any conflict or wrongdoing... >>> more 

31may2008: Chris D'Entremont's quest to save health care... an expert's opinion that "Nova Scotia is a leader in its willingness to review broad areas of its health care system," and the health minister's desire to last out one more year... >>> more

31may2008: Gathering storms of war on Georges Bank?...  Energy minister Richard Hurlburt tossed the first salvo some weeks ago when he bellowed that it's high time to lift the Georges Bank oil exploration moratorium and now fishermen in SouthWest Nova are telling fisheries minister Ron Chisholm that they'll fight any lifting. Meanwhile Port of Yarmouth is gearing up for offshore Georges Bank business and the feds are lying low to avoid being in the middle of what may be a "perfect storm" of a battle of wills... >>> more

may2008:  Keddy set for cabinet post?...  the halls of Ottawa are awash with chatter and speculation that South Shore MP Gerald Keddy may soon be pegged for a cabinet post in the impending shuffle in the wake of the Maxime Bernier firing and the Italy-Afghanistan gaffe.
     If the report by CTV TV is correct, it could spell good news for Keddy and eastern Tories, who have not been on the ins with the Harper government. >>> more

30may2008: More fallout from school funding cuts... Board blindsided by education dept...  Shelburne MLA Sterling Belliveau is up in arms about what he calls "clear neglect for school boards," and insists that the government has "really proven to be out of touch.”
     “A huge problem is the skyrocketing cost of heating oil for the schools and diesel for the buses,” says Belliveau. “The money’s just not there. The Conservative government overlooks these spending costs. They know schools boards had to spend more on these items last year and in the coming year, yet they simply wipe their hands clean. Schools boards have really been left out in the cold.”
     The Department of Education has to sit down with the Board and work with them to find a solution, adds Belliveau. School board officials Phil Landry and Bill Curry were unavailable for comment Thursday afternoon, as they were in Halifax meeting with department officials, according to staffers.
    Education professor MaryAnne Harkins told CBC Radio Thursday that Landry was one of the best superintendents in the province and that, if they were wise, the elected Board would follow his every lead in dealing with the crisis. >>> see Herald Story

30may3008: Province-wide schools crisis looming... >>> see Herald

29may2008: Shake up at Shelburne Yacht Club...   In a move which may not put an end to recent sturm and drang at the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club, the executive announced to members today that, after they had consulted with an attorney, manager Sue Renaud has been relieved of her duties, effective immediately.
     No reason for the dismissal was announced, but there has been open friction at the Club recently regarding staffing, accountability and other matters. The memo to members also stated that food service would also be discontinued. Neither commodore Kenny Taylor nor attorney Donald Harding would comment on record.
     Renaud has arguably been one of the most tireless workers in town, since she became manager at the club soon after it opened several years ago. She has supervised day-to-day operations of the club, Shelburne Marina, bar, food service and other aspects of the busy enterprise.
     Yacht Club members contacted by SCT have suggested that Renaud has hired an attorney to represent her in the conflict with the Club.

29may2008: Tri-County to consider closing schools?...  In a Halifax Herald story Thursday, Tri-County School Board chief Phil Landry announced that a study will begin soon which will assess the needs of the board, in light of declining enrolment expected to continue over five years or more.
      "We have to look at what is best educationally for the students," Landry told The Herald and he admitted that the study could recommend closure of some of the 30 schools in Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne Counties. 
     Results of the study being conducted by Jim Gunn are expected to be announced in early 2010.

 28may2008:   Endangered cusk could threaten lobster fishery in Southwest Nova....  If the designation of the cusk groundfish ever changes from threatened to endangered, many hundreds of lobster-fishing jobs in this end of the province may also be endangered, says one lobster harvester...  >>> more

28may08:   $3.3 million cuts to Tri-County schools budget "devastating"...  24 teaching positions and 18 other positions cut, including psychologists, math and literacy mentors, library services. The cuts included axing the job of Joe Hazelton, communications specialist, and three other non-union workers at the board office.
     Tri-County School Board Superintendent Phil Landry said that, “The province has failed in its duty to invest in the future by providing sufficient funding for education.  The loss of these positions will have a devastating impact on our classrooms.”  >>> Herald Story   >>> Vanguard story

28may08: Loyalist longboats featured on Live at 5... the CTV show aired a segment May 28 about the building of two authentic 18th century longboats on Shelburne's waterfront. The first longboat was launched on May 4 and both boats will take part in the Waterfront Weekend and Grand Loyalist Landing Reenactment in July, as well as an NBC TV film shoot in Shelburne in June. The building of the boats by the Loyalist Landing 2008 Society can be seen here.

28may08:  NS Power wants large rate hike after announcing $57 million quarterly profit... MacDonald says "no gouging allowed!"... Ralph Tedesco of Nova Scotia Power avoided the hard questions of Halifax reporters yesterday when he went to Cape Breton to announce rates hikes that would push residential power bills up 20%, when combined with the recent Tory decision to quash energy tax rebates... >>> Herald story  NSPI promises "No power rate hikes in 2008"   Power play puts parties on defensive

28may08: Banner year for history in Shelburne... the Loyalist Landing celebrations planned for Shelburne in 2008 are being advertised throughout the town with a series of banners depicting 18th century characters and the "King's colours".
     The banners are idea for the banners is patterned after the smaller, but successful, banner program seen in 2007 for the Tall Ships and Whirligig Festivals. The characters on the banners are members of the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers and King's Orange Rangers reenactment regiments and the Historic Shelburne Tall Ships Society. The banners were commissioned by the Loyalist Landing 2008 Society.

28may08:  5,000 + illegal lobsters seized in raid on poachers in Yarmouth... >>> more

28may08:  Region of Queens wins Destination Southwest Nova Scotia partnerships award...   >>> more

28may08:  $3.3 million reduction in property price at Sandy Point... in a new web blog, Ocean Products International announced a $1.7 million pricetag for the property adjacent to the recently purchased SeaCoast Film Studios land at the tip of Sandy Point. The former sea parsley plant has been largely inactive during a legal dispute which is in its seventh year. The property was previously for sale for $5 million...  >>> more

28may08: Register.com set to expand in Yarmouth and Halifax with $6 million incentive from province... one of the region's most stable employers is expanding its current 300-person workforce in Yarmouth by 50% and adding a new Halifax-based division expected to employ 150.
     New York-based Register.com manages more than 2.5 million internet domain names and provides 24/7 support services through call centres like the one in Yarmouth. The Halifax operation at the Maritime Centre will serve a new web design and marketing division.
     $4.9 million from Nova Scotia Business Inc is for rebates based on employment targets and $1 million from the Department of Economic Development is for recruitment and training. >>> more

21may08: SeaCoast Studios moving along at a brisk pace... building lots, recording studio, retail, golf, drive-in and hotel... first film production slated for September... in a recent electronic interview, SeaCoast Entertainment Arts (S.E.A.) exexecutive Jim Kendrick told SCT that much activity is taking place at the former military installation in Sandy Point. 
     Kendrick says that 14 people are now working at SeaCoast Studios, including eight full-time and three part-time staff, plus owners/managers Kendrick and partner Mary Barstow, working as unpaid directors. Three full-time and two part-time employees work for the "Sea Store" group and several local staff are "on-call".           
     Former warden Paulette Scott is now chief financial officer and administrative supervisor. Scott vacated her warden's chair due to conflicts of interest which arose between the SeaCoast position and her role with the council and as an executive with the regional development authority, from whom the property was purchased.
     The previously-reported May 1 movie deal turned out to be a UK-based hoax, the origins of which are being investigated, says Kendrick. Final contracts and scheduling are being set for a film to begin shooting in September. The pool renovations are on slow-down mode for the time being.      
     Nineteen lots have been surveyed and perc tested and are being prepared for subdivision approval by the Municipality. The hotel on site is being renovated and, as soon as it is licensed, will be available for invited guests, film crews, recording studio clients and event participants, according to Kendrick.
     The drive-in movie theatre and mini-golf facilities are due to open in two weeks.

21may08: Mow power to them!...   Thanks to a bevy of volunteers, the rock-strewn former high school site has been turned over the winter to a luscious green in preparation for the Loyalist Landing Grand Reenactment Weekend in July. The original estimated cost of $22,000 was reduced to a $2,500 cash outlay. The volunteer mowing by the reenactment committee will take place weekly, saving an estimated additional $1,000.
     Volunteers from the Loyalist Landing Society, the Reenactment Committee, the 3rd New Jersey Volunteers, Prince of Wales Dancers and others have done what some early naysayers said was "impossible." After the summer fuss is over, we'll have a great, green park in the middle of town. click HERE for photo  click HERE for reenactment weekend info

21may08: Natural resources meetings slated for South Shore... a series of meetings to get public input into the blueprint being developed by Voluntary Planning for the province regarding natural resources – biodiversity, forests, minerals and parks - are taking place throughout Nova Scotia. The South Shore meetings include: Monday, May 26 - Shelburne, Shelburne Fire Hall and Community Centre, 63 King Street; Wednesday, June 4 - Yarmouth, Royal Canadian Legion, 75 Parade Street; Wednesday, June 11 - Liverpool, Royal Canadian Legion, 43 Henry Hensey Drive.
     The committee hosting the meetings includes Sandy Point resident Ken Pierce.  A "conversation starter" for citizens can be found online HERE. Citizens can also place comments online HERE  Read Herald editorial HERE

21may08: Yarmouth port seeks public port input... the Port of Yarmouth is hosting a public meeting June 9 at the Rodd Grand at 7:00pm to get input regarding the future of port and the waterfront. The MacDonnell Group (Digby Wharf, Shelburne Boy's School, Windsor Hockey Centre) has been hired to prepare a business plan which could be used to secure funding for any development.
    Port manager Dave Whiting told Nova Scotia Business Journal that large cruise ships had been ruled out, but that possibilities associated with the offshore gas industry are prospects. >>> more 

21may08: Maple Grove student wins silver in national science fair... Maxwell Grimshaw Poole of Maple Grove Education Centre near Yarmouth: Silver medal in physical and mathematical sciences for "Does The Angle Of Your Ankle Affect The Propulsion of Your Flutter Kick?"
     Nova Scotia 's budding scientists came away with two gold, five silver and nine bronze medals from the Canada-Wide Science Fair. Medals, awards and scholarships were handed out on May 16 in Ottawa. Forty Nova Scotia students joined about 450 of their peers from across the county for the nine-day competition.

14may08:  Belliveau calls for cash for Nova Scotia boatbuilders... In March the government announced an investment of $34 million from the National Community Development Trust to support communities facing economic hardship and Shelburne MLA Sterling Belliveau inquired in the Assembly Wednesday if any of the cash will go to the embattled boat building industry.
     “Will the Minister of Economic Development include the boat building sector when it finally comes out with a plan for this program?,” asked Belliveau. The Nova Scotia Boat Builders Association has written a letter to the premier requesting a commitment from the fund.
       The industry has been a significant contributor to the province’s economy, employing about 1,200 people full-time, year round in mostly coastal communities. Builders have had to adjust to drastic market changes and are facing a double whammy as a result of the faltering U.S. economy and uncertain domestic fishery.
      Economic development minister Angus MacIsaac responded by telling MLA Belliveau that he agreed that the boatbuilders were an important part of the economy, but that fishermen were too and the NDP was about to vote against a budget affording fishermen loans to buy licenses which might add to the demand for more boats.
        Local boat builder Stephen Goreham attended the Toronto Boat Show in January and sees great potential for the industry to re-tool fishing boat production for the pleasure market. Goreham's firm is marketing a 50-foot "Woods Harbour LongLiner" to the Ontario market, based on the company's very popular lobster boat hull . "We're not asking for a handout," says Goreham, "we're just looking for some short-term assistance to get us through tough times."
      "This industry is just too important to be left to wither," adds Goreham, "and we are looking for access to just a small portion of the Community Development fund."

14may08: Embattled fibreglass firm sees $13 million annual sales and up to 23 new jobs for the area in emergency signage contract... fibreglass manufacturer and bathtub maker Terry Hawkins told the Coast Guard recently that his eponomous Terry Hawkins Industries (THI) has a chance to rebound from near-extinction with a provincial government order for fibreglass signage panels.
    The panels, according to Hawkins, are being coveted by Canadian sign manufacturers and, after an emergency installation by the province, "everybody wants the product." None of the Nova Scotia sign manufacturers contacted by SCT had heard of the materials or THI and the department of transportation was unable to confirm an order for the panels..
     Hawkins has previously told local media that he would bring 30-90 jobs to the area making small houses, bathtubs and saw handles, but ran into serious financial difficulties when the firm lost those contracts and he was unable to make payroll on several occasions. Some employees remain unpaid.
     In 2006 and 2007, THI was the recipient of provincial and federal government loans and grants totaling more than $360,000 and is thought to have raised private investment capital approaching $500,000 from local business people and family during the past three years.  
     The web site for the firm has been inactive for several months, as has the factory in Sandy Point. >>> read more

14may08:  Two years-plus for bayside opening... Health minister Chris D'Entremont announced recently that the 50-bed expansion of Barrington's Bayside Home will begin within the 45 days, but could take up to 30 months to complete. The commitment to the beds was made during the 2006 provincial election and is part of the 826 beds throughout the province promised by 2010.

14may08: No public input for muni budget sessions, or,  some people never learn... despite clear evidence from last year's well-attended budget sessions, the Municipality of  Shelburne will not be allowing public comments during the current budget sessions (May 14 & 21).
     When told that staff had advised SCT that no public comment would be allowed at the meetings, warden Sherm Embree said that the issue had not been raised among council. Both councilor John Roscoe and deputy warden Pat Nickerson said that the public should be allowed and invited to address council about budget issues.
     Several months ago, staff presented a proposed rules change for council which would have afforded a public comment period for every council meeting, as is the case in Queens, Barrington and other municipalities. The proposal was defeated six to one, with Pat Nickerson the only affirmative vote.

14may08: Marblehead visitors and film studio investors feted at the Yacht Club.... Three prosperous-looking gents enjoyed the famous hospitality of the Shelburne Harbour Yacht Club at the weekly "toonie-Tuesday" celebration last night.
     The Massachussets trio, who are reported to be the majority investors in Sea Coast Film Productions Studios and are also enjoying the local hospitality of the Cooper's Inn, chatted with the commodore and watched as young Liza Haegart wowed the assembled crowd with songs and music as a fund-raiser for a school trip to Quebec City.

14may08: Pizza and a movie...Sandy Point convenience store opens... after spending $2.75 million to buy the former Shelburne Film Studios (now Sea Coast Film Production studios), Americans Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow announced Tuesday that they have opened a convenience store at the site, which would be followed by mini-golf and a drive-in movie.
     The duo also told the Coast Guard that plans were underway to repair the swimming pool. Kendrick told SCT weeks ago that the pool repair was "days away" from being finished and has previously assured European film producers that the pool was already refurbished and operational. 
     The new committee raising funds for a public pool informed Municipal council that they would be meeting with Kendrick soon about possible use of the pool at Sea Coast. >>> read more

8may08: Shelburne a "Banana Republic" according to new film studio owners... in a May 5 news release, Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow touted the fact that Americans were finally taking over the "crown jewel" of Nova Scotia film studios, located in what they described as "Canada's Banana Republic"  (the disambiguative phrase is described by wikipedia as "a pejorative term for a country with a kleptocratic government, often with a primitive economy and sometimes a puppet state of a major power".)
     Some local citizens are none too pleased with the demeaning description, and one ventured to say that the implications for the mayor and warden overseeing kleptocracies are not good either. "It's great when folks from away come in and insult us all right off," groused one businessman. 
      When interviewed about whether he saw any relevance in calling Shelburne a Banana Republic, inferring a puppet state, Shelburne mayor P.G. Comeau told SCT, "They were obviously referring to the Municipality of Shelburne."
     The news release also described a hotel on the site, which the facility's promotional video says has 60 rooms. The property has not previously been licensed as a hotel and the Province of Nova Scotia has no record of an application being made to operate a hotel or food service at the former military base. One local tourism operator chafed at the addition of 60 unlicensed rooms to the struggling tourism picture. "We're all hurting already, now this."
     Mary Barstow described the long-dormant property as "alive and thriving" and portrayed Shelburne as an "historic village". At a recent presentation to Municipal Council, Barstow and Kendrick made no mention of the film studio, but told council that a mini-golf and drive-in theatre would be built there, as would a candle factory. The $15 million film scheduled to begin shooting May 1 has yet to materialize. sct 

8may08: Embree takes over as Shelburne warden in fractious council meeting punctuated by outbursts, epithets and crying jags... reports from the most recent Shelburne Municipal Council meeting describe the session as "wild and crazy", among other things. 
     Former warden Paulette Scott quit her honorific post citing the appearance of conflict with her new job as executive assistant to Mary Barstow, one of the new owners of Seacoast Studios, located at the former military facility at Sandy Point. 
     Upon Sherm Embree's election as warden, councilman Raymond Davis apparently launched into a series of interruptions and tirades against Embree, finally storming out of the room saying "kiss my #@s!" Former warden Pat Nickerson broke down weeping and the meeting was adjourned temporarily. Nickerson told SCT previously that Davis had driven her to day-long bouts of crying with vicious personal attacks against her and her family.
     When SCT called Davis for comments, we were told that he was "away for  awhile" and is not expected to return soon. sct

25apr08:  Warden tells Herald "no conflict"... says that "nasty" people have wrong idea.  Paulette Scott denied any conflict of interest in her position as warden and employee at SeaCoast Entertainment in a Herald story on Friday's front page business section. Councilor Terry McIntyre is quoted as being shocked and several of her councilors have urged her to resign.
     Scott has been heard privately to be blaming the entire problem surrounding the conflict issue on SCT, telling some that "most people don't care about the issue."

23APR08:  Shelburne Warden to resign over conflict of interest issues... "right thing to do"... in an unannounced closed-door session on Tuesday evening, Municipality of Shelburne warden Paulette Scott informed her council that on Monday, she would announce the end of her tenure as warden of the municipality.
     Recently, Scott was at the centre of a controversy regarding her being hired for an executive position by Seacoast Entertainments, the firm which has recently purchased the former Sandy Point Canadian forces site. Scott is also vice-chair of the regional development authority, which owned the property.
     Just days ago, Scott told SCT that there was "absolutely no conflict" in taking the job and no matter what pressure was put upon her, she was "...taking the job and staying on as warden." Tuesday she apparently told her council colleagues that she was stepping down because it was "the right thing to do."
     Deputy warden Pat Nickerson is likely to serve as warden until the October elections, but councilor Raymond Davis opposes such a move, saying he has three votes for his plan. "I would like to see Paulette stay on as warden," Davis added, "and give up her post on SWSDA." Davis has been the SWSDA alternate for several years and, according to him, he is "fully up to speed on all of the issues" before the body.
     Davis opined that Scott was the only viable warden on council and iterate a variety of professional and personal issues which would make him and other councilors inappropriate candidates for the position.  

23apr08: Seacoast property sale and mortgage finalized for former Canadian Forces site... two-years of no payments part of the deal...  The South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA) has taken a first mortgage for $1.75 million on the recent $2.75 million sale of the former Canadian Forces Station (the base) at Sandy Point, according to documents filed with the registrars office in Shelburne.
     The mortgage is payment and interest-free until May 1, 2010, after which an interest rate of five per cent per annum for eight years and has payments of $22,000 per month attached to it. Seacoast Entertainment Arts, owned by American investors Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow, is the mortgagee on the property. 
     Seacoast recently received more than 200 applications for employment at "Sea City" and Seacoast Film Production Studios, after announcing plans to solicit producers for filming at the site and to create a business "incubator" there, housing a variety of businesses, including candle making, fish hatching, food services, tourism accommodations and a variety of retail operations.
     Of the the $1 million cash received by SWSDA in the deal, there is a court order to hold aside $520,000, there is a $400,000 plus mortgage from the province and there has also been much discussion in the community of a 10% broker's fee promised for the sale.  

24apr08: Seacoast principals to appear before Muni Council... Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow have been requested by Shelburne Municipal Council to make a presentation at Monday's council meeting in chambers. The American pair were the successful bidders for the Shelburne sound stage at Sandy Point, which they have renamed Seacoast Film Production Studios.
     They have recently announced the hiring of municipal warden Paulette Scott as executive assistant to Ms. Barstow

14may08: Pizza and a movie...Sandy Point convenience store opens... after spending $2.75 million to buy the former Shelburne Film Studios (now Sea Coast Film Production studios), Americans Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow announced Tuesday that they have opened a convenience store at the site  >>> Nova News Now.

8may08: Shelburne a "Banana Republic" according to new film studio owners... in a May 5 news release, Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow touted the fact that Americans were finally taking over the "crown jewel" of Nova Scotia film studios, located in what they described as "Canada's Banana Republic"  (the disambiguative phrase is described by wikipedia as "a pejorative term for a country with a kleptocratic government, often with a primitive economy and sometimes a puppet state of a major power".)
     Some local citizens are none too pleased with the demeaning description, and one ventured to say that the implications for the mayor and warden overseeing kleptocracies are not good either. "It's great when folks from away come in and insult us all right off," groused one businessman. 
      When interviewed about whether he saw any relevance in calling Shelburne a Banana Republic, inferring a puppet state, Shelburne mayor P.G. Comeau told SCT, "They were obviously referring to the Municipality of Shelburne."
     The news release also described a hotel on the site, which the facility's promotional video says has 60 rooms. The property has not previously been licensed as a hotel and the Province of Nova Scotia has no record of an application being made to operate a hotel or food service at the former military base. One local tourism operator chafed at the addition of 60 unlicensed rooms to the struggling tourism picture. "We're all hurting already, now this."
     Mary Barstow described the long-dormant property as "alive and thriving" and portrayed Shelburne as an "historic village". At a recent presentation to Municipal Council, Barstow and Kendrick made no mention of the film studio, but told council that a mini-golf and drive-in theatre would be built there, as would a candle factory. The $15 million film scheduled to begin shooting May 1 has yet to materialize. sct 

Banana notes... 
-     One reader suggests that SeaCoast meant to say "Banana Belt"
-     A concerned taxpayer writes to say that, since former warden Paulette Scott is now the marketing & sales person for the outfit, she might have written the release, based on her experience as warden.

8may08: Embree takes over as Shelburne warden in fractious council meeting punctuated by outbursts, epithets and crying jags... reports from the most recent Shelburne Municipal Council meeting describe the session as "wild and crazy", among other things. 
     Former warden Paulette Scott quit her honorific post citing the appearance of conflict with her new job as executive assistant to Mary Barstow, one of the new owners of Seacoast Studios, located at the former military facility at Sandy Point. 
     Upon Sherm Embree's election as warden, councilman Raymond Davis apparently launched into a series of interruptions and tirades against Embree, finally storming out of the room saying "kiss my #@s!" Former warden Pat Nickerson broke down weeping and the meeting was adjourned temporarily. Nickerson told SCT previously that Davis had driven her to day-long bouts of crying with vicious personal attacks against her and her family.
     When SCT called Davis for comments, we were told that he was "away for  awhile" and is not expected to return soon. sct

8may08: Shelburne's auction season begins Saturday on the waterfront... B&W Auctions has announced the first auction of the season at the Cox Warehouse on Dock Street this coming Saturday. Viewing is at 9:00 am with bidding slated for 10:00am.
     29 box lots and 300 items are expected, including furniture, folk art, bed sets, oil lamps, prints, etc. Visit B&W web here sct

25apr08:  Warden tells Herald "no conflict"... says that "nasty" people have wrong idea.  Paulette Scott denied any conflict of interest in her position as warden and employee at SeaCoast Entertainment in a Herald story on Friday's front page business section. Councilor Terry McIntyre is quoted as being shocked and several of her councilors have urged her to resign.
     Scott has been heard privately to be blaming the entire problem surrounding the conflict issue on SCT, telling some that "most people don't care about the issue."

25apr08: Etube, brute... Sea City concert venue and hotel debuts with You Tube videos... Shelburne's newest concert venue, Sea City, launched a series of promotional videos on the internet channel You Tube this past week. Using still photos and hand-held video, the new owners of the former Canadian Forces Station have produced short promo videos for the concert venue, film studios, conference centre and hotel. As a nice touch, Sea Coast Studios American owners put a red maple leaf on the entry sign. See the videos here.

24apr08:  No to warden's job, says Nickerson... Shelburne deputy warden Pat Nickerson told SCT today that she will not consider taking over as warden when Paulette Scott vacates the position on Monday, due to concerns by council and ratepayers that Scott is in conflict of interest vis-a-vis a new position.
    Saying she has been the target of a campaign of "vicious and untrue personal and professional attacks" by another councilor, Nickerson said that she was not one to "back away from civic responsibility", but that she was not inclined to suffer the personal pain of the unwarranted attacks. Councilman Raymond Davis has been waging a behind-the-scenes campaign to have Scott remain as warden, saying others were not fit for the position.
     As of 5pm Thursday, Scott had not resigned, but if she officially tenders her resignation to the clerk prior to Monday's meeting, there could be a vote for warden at that time. If not, the council would have to wait until a future meeting to elect a warden. Scott has said publicly that she is quitting as warden "because it is the right thing", but privately she is blaming the local media for the conflict of interest situation.

24apr08:  Power play... Brooklyn, South Shore Power sold... AbitibiBowater announced April 22 the purchase of Brooklyn Power Corporation and South Shore Power Services Incorporated by Bowater Mersey Paper Company Limited. >>> more

23APR08:  Shelburne Warden to resign over conflict of interest issues... "right thing to do"... in an unannounced closed-door session on Tuesday evening, Municipality of Shelburne warden Paulette Scott informed her council that on Monday, she would announce the end of her tenure as warden of the municipality.
     Recently, Scott was at the centre of a controversy regarding her being hired for an executive position by Seacoast Entertainments, the firm which has recently purchased the former Sandy Point Canadian forces site. Scott is also vice-chair of the regional development authority, which owned the property.
     Just days ago, Scott told SCT that there was "absolutely no conflict" in taking the job and no matter what pressure was put upon her, she was "...taking the job and staying on as warden." Tuesday she apparently told her council colleagues that she was stepping down because it was "the right thing to do."
     Deputy warden Pat Nickerson is likely to serve as warden until the October elections, but councilor Raymond Davis opposes such a move, saying he has three votes for his plan. "I would like to see Paulette stay on as warden," Davis added, "and give up her post on SWSDA." Davis has been the SWSDA alternate for several years and, according to him, he is "fully up to speed on all of the issues" before the body.
     Davis opined that Scott was the only viable warden on council and iterate a variety of professional and personal issues which would make him and other councilors inappropriate candidates for the position.  

23apr08: Seacoast property sale and mortgage finalized for former Canadian Forces site... two-years of no payments part of the deal...  The South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA) has taken a first mortgage for $1.75 million on the recent $2.75 million sale of the former Canadian Forces Station (the base) at Sandy Point, according to documents filed with the registrars office in Shelburne.
     The mortgage is payment and interest-free until May 1, 2010, after which an interest rate of five per cent per annum for eight years and has payments of $22,000 per month attached to it. Seacoast Entertainment Arts, owned by American investors Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow, is the mortgagee on the property. 
     Seacoast recently received more than 200 applications for employment at "Sea City" and Seacoast Film Production Studios, after announcing plans to solicit producers for filming at the site and to create a business "incubator" there, housing a variety of businesses, including candle making, fish hatching, food services, tourism accommodations and a variety of retail operations.
     Of the the $1 million cash received by SWSDA in the deal, there is a court order to hold aside $520,000, there is a $400,000 plus mortgage from the province and there has also been much discussion in the community of a 10% broker's fee promised for the sale.  

24apr08: Seacoast principals to appear before Muni Council... Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow have been requested by Shelburne Municipal Council to make a presentation at Monday's council meeting in chambers. The American pair were the successful bidders for the Shelburne sound stage at Sandy Point, which they have renamed Seacoast Film Production Studios.
     They have recently announced the hiring of municipal warden Paulette Scott as executive assistant to Ms. Barstow

22apr08: Sandy Point Lighthouse gets funding...  South Shore MP Gerald Keddy, SWSDA CEO Frank Anderson and others announced Tuesday a successful funding application for funding to ACOA (Keddy is also parliamentary secretary to the ACOA minister) and others for support to repair the ailing Sandy Point Lighthouse near Shelburne.
     ACOA is investing $ 38,274, Nova Scotia Economic Development is contributing $20,000, the Municipality of the District of Shelburne is contributing $10,000, and the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society is contributing
$6,600 toward the upgrades and improvements.
     Substantial work has been done over the winter on the concrete base for the maritime icon and the project will also include new railing and interpretive panels. Joan Bower of the South West Shore Development Authority was instrumental in a two-year campaign to raise funds for the project.

22apr08: Film producer Gilmour decamps to Ontario...  Saying that the lack of representation of Nova Scotia at the recent locations expo in California was the "last straw", Australian film producer Steve Gilmour told SCT he was moving to Ontario to try to get his film shot there.
     "No wonder Nova Scotia is down in productions currently if we leave our hands up in the air in surrender saying the competition is too much and too big, so we won't even try."
     Gilmour's production of Moon Harvest was originally to have been shot at the sound stage at Sandy Point, but that changed with the collapse of an arrangement with Jim Kendrick and Mary Barstow, who subsequently bought the property.

22apr08: Earth day big deal for Barrington schools... the 38th annual celebration of Earth Day will get lots of attention Tuesday among the students and staff of the Barrington area "family of schools", as Barrington High School, Forest Ridge Academy, Cape Sable Island Elementary and Evelyn Richardson Memorial Elementary School (ERMES) head out into the hills and dales in search of ways to celebrate "mother earth."
    The day of beach sweeps, trail clean-ups and other pro-environment activity allows students to focus on the need to regard the natural world as valuable. At ERMES in Shag Harbour, staff and students will be visiting the western branch of the Barrington River for trash sweeps, geocaching and water and vegetation assessments.
    Tests for water salinity will allow students to monitor the possible effects of road salt on the environment and vegetation assessments will afford the students a benchmark for further monitoring at a later date.

22apr08: Budget talks begin for Shelburne municipality... the yearly budget sessions for councilors at the Municipality of Shelburne begin Tuesday night (6:00pm at muni council chambers), with additional sessions slated for April 30 and May 14 and 21.
     The great furor stirred by last year's sessions is not expected, as the draft budget appears not to contain any items which would drastically raise tax rates. 
    Some of the items slated for discussion include additional recreation staff, cost-sharing for tourism and economic development staff, fire protection funding, office repairs, economic development financing and election costs. One controversial item is certain to be the return of increased salaries for warden and council. 

22apr08: Digby ferry crisis looming for SouWest Nova Scotia... ‘no-speak’ rhetoric from government officials to blame for funding logjam, says Digby Courier... >>> more  No "no from MacKay on help from feds >>> more  $44 million building boom not accessible with ferry gone... >>> more  No time to waste >>> editorial

22apr08: "New world vibe" central to new Nova Scotia tourism brand... seaside trails and cottage licensing go by the wayside... "Old world charm. New world vibe. Shaped by the Sea. The spirit of our people."  These are the four attributes of Nova Scotia’s new " brand"...  >>> more

22apr08: Shrinking slate for Shelburne Mayor's race.... local businessman and former Chamber of Commerce head Ed Cayer has informed SCT that, despite suggestions that he may enter the fray, he will definitely not be a candidate in the October election for mayor of Shelburne, "or any other elected office".
     Citing the need for fresh, young ideas and people, his attention needed on the on-going litigation with SWSDA and his desire to ask questions of the candidates, Cayer also cited several private initiatives he has underway which will garner his attention.
     Mayor Comeau has committed to re-offer and other possible candidates include town councilors Al Delaney and Tony Mahaney and former port manager Donnie Acker.  
     Common wisdom in the 2004 election said that Comeau was re-elected in part due to the fact that there were several candidates splitting the votes.

22apr08: Shelburne County support sought for new Yarmouth arts centre... the backers of the new arts centre planned for Yarmouth have sent out news releases seeking public input and support from Shelburne and Yarmouth counties and the Clare area at the May 5 public sessions in Yarmouth... >>> more

22apr08: Major entertainment complex for Bowood unveiled... the Bowood project developed by Ralston Macdonnell has unveiled a sweeping plan to create an multi-faceted entertainment complex at the former Boy's School in Shelburne. The plan, according to the facility's web site and a recent presentation by project director Stephen Antle, is to house events, live shows, corporate business meetings, seminars, workshops, promotional events, fundraisers and recreational activities at the Sandy Point location. 
     Named Bowood's Eventex, the entertainment company is overseen by Antle, former producer of the very successful Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso and promises to specialize in live entertainment, exhibition and cultural productions. The complex houses several performance venues with a combined capacity over 1,000 and will be the home soon for shows by Bruce Guthro, Charlie Acourt and the Hupman Brothers (May 26), Dwight D'Eon (May 10) and comic Jimmy Flynn (June 7)
     Antle recently told a Chamber of Commerce gathering that, rather than compete with the Osprey Arts Centre, Bowood/Eventex would concentrate on shows that were not offered at or not suitable for the arts centre.