A group looking to create a marine sanctuary on the coast of Nova Scotia is coming to Liverpool on Friday to pitch the idea to the community.

Non-profit group The Whale Sanctuary Project is making the presentation, and Executive Director Charles Vinick says the key part of the project is to find a community that wants to support the project.

“We really want to find a community that would look to collaborate with us, and participate with us in the planning,” he said. “While we have a vision, we have to share that vision and work with local individuals and community officials.”

He adds Funding for the sanctuary would come from philanthropy, with a major donor already sourced.

The location for the sanctuary hasn’t been determined, however it would need to be about half a kilometer square and in a cove or inlet.

Vinick says opinions in Canada are changing keeping animals in captivity. This week in the federal government level second reading of a bill that would ban capture, display and breeding of marine animals in captivity is expected to start on Friday.

The meeting takes place on Feb. 1 at 6:30 pm at the Astor Theatre.

Don’t be a prick, dispose of your needles safely. That’s the message of a new education campaign by the Waste Resource Association of Nova Scotia.

Launched in January, the campaign is aimed at both grabbing attention and putting a real face to the solid waste workers who sometimes face real danger from improperly disposed of needles.

Kirk Symonds, Vice President of the Waste Resource Association of Nova Scotia said although stats aren’t kept on the number of workers that get jabbed, everyone in the industry knows someone who has.

“I’ve never been so afraid when I find needles in my job. And it’s happened more often than I would like to admit,” he says.

Being jabbed with a needle in the garbage has potential serious consequences for the workers as well. Once it happens, they have to go through a year of testing because they have no idea what was in needle, which is also a year of anxiety while waiting for each test result.

If a needle is found at a recycling centre, even if worker has not been stuck, the line has to be shut down while they deal with needle and track down where it came if they can.

Symonds said for the most part he does not believe the needles are being thrown out with malicious intents, but rather a lack of knowing how to do it properly. He says proper disposal containers can be picked up at pharmacy’s, and in public areas where needles have been found, such as service station restrooms, they can get a sharps disposal containers installed.

The don’t be a prick campaign is being promoted through social media and online at Don’t be a Prick.

Don’t be a prick campaign.

A new app for your mobile device will make it easier to sort your garbage in the Region of Queens and make sure you never miss a pick up day.

The Region 6 recycles app was launched at the beginning of 2019, and is free to download for users. It covers the entire Region 6 area, from Shelburne to West Hants, but users input their address to get waste collection reminders tailored to where they live.

Scott LeBlanc, Solid Waste Clerk with the Region of Queens, says the app is a great way help people make sure their waste is sorted properly.

“We’ve always thought there were people that maybe didn’t know how to sort something. Maybe they didn’t know who to call or bother to call and put it in the wrong place where it got rejected,” said LeBlanc. “This is good way for people on their own time to put those questions forth.”

The app can be set up for reminders on bi-weekly pickup as well as fall and spring cleanup. Another feature of the app is a search function, that will tell you how to sort specific items. For things that don’t go into regular pick up, it also brings up a map with the closest drop off location.

The app was created Re-collect, a company that has made similar apps for municipalities across North America. Funded by the municipalities in Region 6, LeBlanc says it costs around $9,000 a year which works out to 10 cents per person.

Region 6 solid Wast app, released in January.

A chance to explore Sable Island and its famous horses is coming to White Point Beach Resort this weekend.

Called a salute to Sable Island and the legendary horses, the two day event is gathering a variety of speakers and exhibits at the resort to show a part of Nova Scotia few have had a chance to explore.

This is the third year the resort has teamed up with Parks Canada to showcase the island, and fund raise for various groups that support the research that goes on. This year the funds will go towards the Sable Island Institute, which was formed to support and protect the culture of the island. Along with a presentation from Parks Canada on their management plan, there will be a history of the horses, a touch table of artifacts, and a reading from local author Marsha Harding from her book Secrets of Sable.

Recreation Director Darlene Norman says beyond being informative, the weekend brings guests up close to Sable Island.

“It’s some art. It’s a lot of knowledge, it’s beautiful visuals, and engaging speakers and it’s all wrapped up at White Point as a benefit for the Sable Island Institute.

A benefit dinner Saturday night will have Zoe Lucas president of Sable Island institute speak on the year in the life of a Sable Island horse.

The seminars are free to attend, although registration is necessary. Norman said the dinner registration was closed Thursday, but there may be some last-minute tickets available. To register call 1-800-565-5068 ext 1

A full list of events can be found on the White Point Beach resort website.

High winds and rain knocked out power across the province last night, including several parts of Queens County.
The largest concentration of power outages in Queens were reported in LaBelle, with over 200 customers without power. Power was also knocked out in Kejimkujik National Park, parts of Caledonia, Liverpool, Western Head and Brooklyn.

Nova Scotia Power estimated most power would be restored by late afternoon

Winds gusting as strong as 90 km/h were seen across the province, brought on by a low pressure system that swept west to east. With it came mind temperatures and 20-40mm of rain in some areas.

The entire South Shore is seeing higher than normal water levels and pounding surf in the aftermath of the storm.

Outages for Jan. 25

The South Shore chapter of autism Nova Scotia is looking for volunteers to bolster their numbers and provide support for those on the Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Susan Himmelman, support coordinator with the south shore chapter, says the volunteers are vital to their success.

They are looking for people who can help out with existing programs, such as curling and swimming, fundraising efforts, and to bring skills of their own that they can share.

“Without the support of the community these programs can’t run,” said Himmelman. “A lot of these kids and adults can’t participate in the normal programs without support.”

Not all volunteers are directly involved with working with those with autism, and for those that are Autism Nova Scotia provides training.

Himmelman adds they have a core base of volunteers already, so volunteering is a great way to meet new people.

Those interested in volunteering can contact Himmelman at 902-541-8233, or southshore@autismns.ca

RCMP have located the body of a 49 year old man, who was reported missing on the evening of Jan.21.

At approximately 9 a.m. on Jan. 22, searchers located the remain in Ponhook Lake. His body was recovered on Jan. 23. The investigation into the death is continuing and we have not made a determination about any criminality at this time. The man left to go for an ATV ride on the evening of Jan. 21 and was last seen driving past an island on Ponhook Lake.

RCMP Air Services and Underwater Recovery Team provided assistance to Queens District Detachment during this incident. The RCMP said they would like to thank everyone involved in the search, including Volunteer Firefighters. The RCMP addedtheir thoughts are with the victim’s family at this difficult time.

A local developer says he will halt any more construction on Cobb’s Ridge if a proposed cell phone tower goes through.

Dale Whynot, general manager of Whynot family group of companies spoke in council on Jan. 22 against a proposed Eastlink cell phone tower at the end of Meadow Pond Lane. Whynot is developing two buildings of apartments on Cobb’s Ridge, and had intended to expand beyond that once project was finished and the units occupied.

Whynot said he is concerned about the unsightly view, and lowered property value because of the tower. However he emphasized it is the supposed unknown health effects that will make him rethink future development in close proximity.

“So council has to know that if this cell phone tower is erected, there are two buildings being built there now and there will only ever be two buildings built there,” he said. “We can’t take that financial risk without hard known facts that cell phone towers won’t cause any adverse health effects.”

Whynot said the repercussions would go beyond just fewer housing developments, and also affect the contractors and tradespeople who come in to work on the projects.

Whynot was one of two dozen people gathered to hear about the proposal, and one of a half dozen who spoke out against the proposed development. All were concerned about the potential health effects from the tower.

No one spoke in favour of the development.

The proposed tower will be 61 metres (200 feet) high, and about 213 metres (700 feet) from the closest dwelling. Eastlink has stated they will follow Health Canada’s guidelines on radio frequency, or RF, electromagnetic energy exposure.

The matter will go for vote in council in February.

Stock up on storm chips, A major winter storm in tracking towards the Maritimes and could bring a messy Sunday morning and into Monday to Queens County.

Emergency management officials say with the mix of rain and freezing rain expected for the South Shore, that we should expect power outages. 25-60 mm of rain could fall in our area, bringing localized flooding

They recommend making sure cell phones are charged, your vehicle is topped up with gas and your emergency kit is ready to go. That includes making sure you have drinking water to last up to three days.

Most of the snow will fall in Northern New Brunswick, while southern New Brunswick and Northern Nova Scotia could see an icy mess.

However the storm is still developing and could shift directions to bring a mix of any of that weather to Queens County.

In the aftermath of the storm temperatures are expected to drop rapidly, causing all that rain to freeze Monday afternoon.

Here is the weather warning from environment Canada:

Winter storm expected to bring major impacts to the region Sunday and into Monday.

A low pressure system will approach the region from the southwest on Sunday and track across the Gulf of St. Lawrence early Monday as a large winter storm. All indications show a major snowfall event for areas north of the track of the low, a major rainfall event south of the track of the low, and significant amounts of snow, rain and an extended period of freezing rain near the track of the low. The precipitation will be accompanied by very strong east to northeast winds ahead of the low’s track, shifting to very strong southerly winds south of its track.

Current indications suggest that the storm will track through the Bay of Fundy Sunday evening and then into the Gulf of St. Lawrence overnight. This track could give snowfall amounts of 10-20 cm and rainfall amounts of 25-60 mm. The highest snowfall amounts will likely be over the Cumberland region of northern Nova Scotia. It should be noted that even a slight shift in its forecast track will have major effects on the type and amount of precipitation received.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to NSstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #NSStorm.

A Queens County woman has pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing the death of her younger sister.

28 year old Meghan Elizabeth Nowe admitted she gave methadone to her sister, 22 year old  Allison Nowe, in April 2017 at a Bridgewater apartment. First responders were called to the scene about a woman in medical distress, and took her to South Shore Regional Hospital. Allison died later that day.

Nowe will be sentenced next month in Bridgwater provincial court, where she will also face charges of manslaughter and breaching probation.

A report on long term health care facilities in Nova Scotia has resulted in a long list of recommendations for the province to improve care for the aging population.

The report, released on Tuesday, highlights the need to improve both resident care in the facilities, and better support for the workers at long term care facilities.

With staffing, the report stated levels are is too low at most facilities to support vacations and injuries, and recommended bolstering the work force with temporary workers. In the long term, the report recommends investing in Continuing Care Assistance education and retention efforts.

Three of the five recommendations focused on boosting staff levels and training, while the remaining two focused on transitioning of patients and upgrading technology at long term care facilities.

The government said it would act on all recommendations of the report, and release details on a strategy after it had been reviewed further.

A copy of the panel’s recommendations is available online at, https://novascotia.ca/dhw/publications.asp

South Shore-St. Margarets MP Bernadette Jordan will have a new role to tackle this year.

Earlier today Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a minor cabinet shuffle, with the South Shore MP taking on the role of Minister of Rural Economic Development.

Jordan has also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Democratic Institutions in her first term as MP.

The shuffle comes shortly after the resignation of fellow Nova Scotian liberal MP Scott Brison, who had served as chair of the Treasury board.

The shuffle included Montreal MP David Lamette becoming Justice Minister, Vacouver MP Jody Wilson-Raybould to Veterans Affairs, Seamus O’Regan to Indigenous Services and Jane Philpott to the Treasury Board.

South Shore St. Margarets MP Bernadette Jordan.

The Privateer Days Commission has a new chairperson along with several new board members.

Catherine Croft put her name forward at an information meeting on Thursday night at the Town Hall Arts and Cultural Centre.

The meeting had been intended to discuss with interested parties what the roles would entail, however Croft said it was a role she is ready to tackle.

“It’s a viable event this community needs. The community makes a lot of money from it with tourism, and it’s your signature piece of what Liverpool is,” she said.

Croft is no stranger to organizing events, working with Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition to attract more attendees and organized fairs and events for schools and community groups.

The role of Vice Chair was also appointed to Jessica Van Dyne Evans, who wasn’t able to attend the meeting but had made her intentions to run known to Croft. Rounding out the names put forward, Linda Rafuse will take on the role of treasurer.

Though they have resigned, soon to be past Chair Tanya Long said the former board plans on guiding the new board on the finer details of their respective roles, such as grant writing and logistics, while letting them shape the festival on their own. Long said she was happy to see the support from the community to see the festival move forward.

“I think it’s a lot of positive things coming forward. We’ve got new people and new ideas,” she said.

Two other roles are still vacant, Fundraising Chair and Secretary. A meeting to appoint those roles will take place at a to be determined date. Anyone interested in more information about the roles can contact Long at 902-354-5939.

The need for a whole new board came about late last year, after the board of directors announced they would resign at the end of January. Some felt that their time had run its course, and others in solidarity with the executive director Brian Fralic. Fralic also resigned due to a mix of harassment over some events surrounding the festival, and because he also felt it was time to step down and focus on other priorities.

Part of the issue stemmed from the controversy around an entry in the parade that would include drag performers. A small but vocal minority voiced opposition to the entry, and took to Facebook and Frank Magazine to try and quash the float. The ensuing attention created some concern from Heritage Canada, who puts over $40,000 a year into the event, that the community was not creating an inclusive event, said Long.

“That point percentage of those who are not open minded could have jeopardized it for our who town. Our whole county,” she said.

However once the outpouring of support from the community drowned out the opponents, the parade went on as normal including the drag performers, and heritage Canada was satisfied it was an inclusive event.

At the meeting members of the public spoke out in favour of making sure Privateer Days and the community is inclusive to all walks of life, including the LGBTQ community.

Colourful outfits, opera singers and drag queens took over the ice at the Liverpool Curling Club on Jan. 5 for the first and likely annual pride spiel.

The event was to show support to the LGBTQ community, something that has been on the club’s mind for over a year.

While unsure what to expect when the event was first announced, organizer Jenn Chase said it couldn’t have gone better.

“Everyone has been so happy about it and had a good time. It was a success for sure,” she said.

The spiel had all 12 team slots filled, with teams coming from all over the province, and plenty of positive feedback from the participants.

Next year’s Pride Speil is set for Jan. 11, and Chase says they are even discussing turning it into a two day event.

With the first event of 2019 finished, the club is already preparing for the next. On Jan. 11 they are hosting a fun curl, while in Feb the annual Curl for Cancer will return to the ice.

A unique program at the Liverpool Curling Club to help autistic school aged students learn to curl is coming back for a second year.

The sessions are taught in small groups, with coaches who have gone through training on how to teach skills to those on the autism spectrum. Last year proved so successful that some of the curlers went on to join regular junior curling teams.

Jennifer Conrad, coordinator for the learn to curl program, said as far as they are aware, they are First curling club in NS to have autism specific program.

Debbie Wamboldt, who’s son has autism, said can be tough for families with autistic children to enroll them into sports, both financially and because it can be difficult for those with autism to adapt to the competitive environment.

“It’s tough for autism families to get into sports. So when I saw the curling club was looking for some new members I though it would be a good opportunity for our kids to break into the sport,” she says.

Her son went through the program last year, and will take part again this year. There is no fee to participate, and the only equipment needed is a clean pair of shoes and a helmet.

The five week program starts this Saturday, and anyone interested in more information or enrolling can contacting Conrad at Liverpooljuniorcurling@live.com or Wamboldt at debandchris@bellaliant.net.

Though the holidays are over, the Salvation Army still has plenty to celebrate and give thanks for, after their annual Kettle campaign surpassed their goal for 2018.

In total in Queens and Shelburne county the campaign raised $27,094.65. Barb Redmond, one of the organizers of the campaign, says it’s important to recognize it down to the nickel, as every bit helps.

“I mention the 65 cents… because a little boy dumped his change purse into the kettle. Every penny is significant,” she says.

Redmond says they also had plenty of volunteers to sit by the kettles this year, which is a big part of the success.

“The volunteers reported such kindness,” says Redmond. “People would often stop and thank them for their volunteerism. They were really touched by that.”

She adds beyond those that donated, the managers at the grocery stores and NSLC outlets also deserve thanks for the help they provided.

The RCMP have made an arrest in relation to a two year old robbery in Liverpool.

On Jan. 2 Queens RCMP arrested 31 year old Timothy Moore for attempted robbery from a convenience store in the community, that happened on Dec. 2 2016.

Moore was arrested without incident, and has been charged with Robbery, Wearing a Disguise With Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of a Weapon, and Mischief

He was remanded into custody following his arrest and appeared in Bridgewater Provincial Court on Jan. 4.

Queens District RCMP is requesting public assistance in two recent thefts where a total of 1200 pounds of lobster was stolen. The thefts occurred in the early morning of December 23 and January 1 from the lobster pounds on Long Cove Rd.

In the theft that occurred on Dec. 23, the suspect may have used a small boat that was pulled up on shore near the pound.

Anyone with information about these thefts is asked to contact Queens District RCMP detachment 902-354-5721. Should you wish to remain anonymous call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

Caledonia has lost its sole gas station, but the North Queens Board of Trade is holding a public meeting to find a solution.

In a Facebook post, owner Willis Fancy says rules from his supplier requiring payment the day after delivery, and not enough traffic to the station means he could not continue. The next closest gas station is in Greenfield, a 20 minute drive away.

North Queens Board of Trade president Laura Lee Johnson says the community has lost other services before, such as banking, but buying fuel is a more urgent need.

“You can do  banking online, but you can’t buy gas online,” says Johnson.

She adds there has already been some interest from other business owners in the community to take on the service, as well as interest in forming a community cooperative.

“We’re hoping to find solutions at the meeting and that it will be a very positive meeting for everybody.”

The public meeting will take place Jan. 7 at 7 pm at the Fire Hall in Caledonia.

Moving a loved one to a nursing home can be a stressful time, but Elizabeth Eberendu is one of the many at Queens Manor working to make the transition a smooth one.

Eberendu took over the role of director of residential care at Queens Manor earlier this year, and says it has proved to be a challenging but rewarding role.

She says her role is a dynamic one, making sure the needs of the residents are met as well as providing clinical and administrative leadership to the medical staff at the 61-bed facility.

Elizabeth Eberendu is Director of Residential Care at Queens Manor.

Eberendu says it can be a daunting experience, both for the person moving in and the family members, when they have to go to a care facility. However along with making sure all the medical needs of the resident are met, they also work hard to make Queens Manor feel like a home.

Before taking on this role, she worked as a nurse at Queens General Hospital. While still a rewarding experience, she says working at Queens Manor lets her get to know the residents.

“You see the smile on their face,” she says. “You get to know them more intimately than you normally would. That to me is the most rewarding aspect.”

She adds at the end of the day, seeing the resident comfortable and happy is the ultimate goal.

Privateer Days is in need of new leadership, after the executive directors for the annual festival stepped down en masse.

Executive director Brian Fralic has worked with Privateer Days for the past 10 years, and says for most of them it came down to not being enjoyable anymore.

Although criticism is part of the job, this year it seemed to be particularly nasty, he said. There was a group from Halifax that was not hired to take part that were vocal about not returning, backlash over the drag queens entry into the parade, along with prolonged criticism of other aspects of the festival.

“After that happened it left a bad taste in our mouth,” said Fralic. “And clearly having hate mail sent to you is not a fun experience.”

Fralic says the committee has worked very hard to build the festival into what it is today, and is proud to leave the festival in the shape it is. When he came on board the festival was $50,000 in debt. From there he says the committee paid off the debt in three years, and brought on new events such as Darren Hudson and his log rolling demonstration and the multicultural festival.

“There was never a year where I thought we did just OK. I thought every year was great,” he said. “After every festival we’d turn around and see how we could raise the bar.”

However after the events of this year the executive committee feels it is now time for them to step back and let others take the helm.

The internet service at Queens Place is getting a big upgrade in the coming weeks.

Council approved a motion that will see the service improved both for hardwired connections and wifi throughout the building.

The original configuration of internet in Queens Place has proved to be a thorn in the side of staff and visitors, with unreliable connections and slow service. Smaller solutions over the seven years of the facility’s operation have been met with limited success, so an overhaul is required.

Mayor David Dagley says this is a long-needed upgrade.

“Internet service at Queens Place Emera Centre has not been to the level that we would like it to be,” he said. “It’s being upgraded to provide more data for all those services.”

Upgrading the infrastructure will cost around $65,000 up front to add new access points and security equipment, while the ongoing service will cost $525 per month. The contract was awarded to Bell Aliant, and the upgrades are expected to be in place before the World Junior Curling Tournament in February.

Mayor Dagley noted the monthly cost will be about $50 less than what they are paying now.

With the holidays approaching, the Nova Scotia RCMP are advising the public to be aware of these scams in the event they are happening elsewhere in the province.

Scammers continue to impersonate the Canada Revenue Agency, RCMP and other agencies by asking for money or face being arrested, however, heartstring scams can be common at this time of year. These involve scammers using tactics to pull at victim’s heartstrings and emotions. Here are a few to be on the lookout for:

Grandparent Scam: Scammers contact victims claiming to be a grandchild in trouble. They may ask the grandparent to guess who it is before identifying themselves as that name before asking the grandparent to send money and not tell anyone.

Loss of Family Member Scam: Scammers use the obituaries to contact their victims who have recently lost a loved one, claiming the deceased had unpaid bills or debts that need to be paid right away.

Love Interest Scam: Scammers meet their victims online or in person and express romantic interest. They will often earn the victim’s trust through ongoing communication before attempting to gain access to personal and financial information. They may ask for a quick “emergency loan” to pay a bill or their rent. These types of scams often end in financial loss and a broken heart.

Here are a few tips to avoid becoming a victim:

• Never wire money to anyone unless you have confirmed their identity.
• Keep cell phone numbers for your children and grandchildren somewhere you can easily locate them.
• Arrange to have a trusted family member or friend handle all financial matters in the days following the loss of a loved one.
• Keep your personal and financial documents locked at home in a safe place – do not carry them with you or share them with anyone.
• Share this information with your loved ones to protect them from being a victim.

If you or a family member has fallen victim to a scam, report it to your local police, as well as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) or online at www.antifraudcentre.ca.

Tips from the RCMP

Five students from Queens County have reached the first level of the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Jordyn Duffney, Ellen Raddall, Georgia Williams, Keegan Oickle and Ella Stevens all received their bronze level of the Duke of Edinburgh awards on Dec. 6, in front of a crowd of proud parents and friends.

The awards combine volunteer work, physical activity, skill development and adventure journey, and is guided by mentors from the community.

Troy Smith, the local leader of the Duke of Edinburgh program in Queens, said the it challenges each of the youth in different ways.

“An aspect of the youth program that is fantastic. It has parts that will challenge all youth,” says Smith.

All the students said they would work towards their silver level.

The program is sponsored through the Region of Queens, the first time the Duke of Edinburgh program has been sponsored through a municipality in Nova Scotia. Normally the program is done through the school or youth program, however the youth must be a part of the school or program to sign up. By running it through the municipality, Smith says it opens up the program to anyone of age in the county.

Ellen Raddall,Jordyn Duffney, Keegan Oickle, Georgia Williams, and Ella Stevens all received their bronze level of the Duke of Edinburgh awards on Dec. 6.

A bigger than expected jump in minimum wage could be in the future for Nova Scotia.

The Minimum wage review committee for the province released their report earlier this week, and is proposing an increase of $0.55 per year over the next three years. Usually the increase is tied to just inflation, which would make it just $0.25 per year.

The report notes that this increase would both meet the Low Income Cut off level and would compensate for inflation. Most workers don’t work the full 40 hours per week, which is also why the committee recommended an increase.

Nova Scotia has the lowest minimum wage in the country, at $11 per hour. In the Maritimes the minimum wage ranges from $11.25 in New Brunswick to $11.55 in PEI.

At present, the committee concluded workers need to be paid $11.90 an hour to meet the LICO threshold in Nova Scotia for 2018.

The provincial government will review the report, and make a recommendation in the New Year.

The full report can be read here.