The Shoreline Journal
and The South
Cumberland News are
monthly community newspapers based in Bass River, Nova Scotia, and serving
the Fundy Shore/Glooscap Trail from Truro to Parrsboro and further north to
Advocate Harbour.
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deadlines...
Established in 1994, the Journal was originally published as the West Colchester Free Press by Ken Kennedy Publications, and later renamed to The Shoreline Journal. In January 2008 The Journal changed hands and is now under the management of Maurice Rees. He initiated a redesign of the paper, with the addition of several colour pages in each issue. Each monthly issue concentrates on the many community events which involve residents of all ages, from the elderly to the very young, and those young at heart. A primary focus is those activities which involve students, whether it be school or 4-H club activities.
Maurice has extensive experience in the community newspaper & advertising field, and has been running several businesses in Maitland for the past few years.
On-line issues: This Month Issue Archives - April 2009 to last month
MMC RECOMMENDATIONS
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Part 1 - June Part 2 - July Part 3 - August Part 4 - September
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| June Page 12 | June Page 17 | July Page 10 | July Page 19 |
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| August Page 10 | August Page 19 | September Page 10 | September Page 15 |
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Features
The Shoreline Journal understands that rural communities want to know about news and events in their communities, so that's our focus, the things that directly affect our subscribers, sponsors and customers. Watch for regular items:
| Rees' Pieces (Publishers) | Letters to the Editor | Community Calendar |
| Heritage Notes | Sports Events | Classified Ads |
| Senior Affairs | Nature Notes | Credit Union News |
| MLA Activity Report | Community Centres | Fire Brigade |
| Favourite Pet Photo | Parish News | 4-H Clubs |
| Kitchen Korner | Poems & Photos | Obituaries |
| Front Page Briefs |
plus notes from many communities and organizations such as:
Bass River, CCJS Student Council, Chiganois, Debert Elementary, Debert Legion, Great Village, Londonderry Council, MacCarell Villa, Masstown, Onslow Belmont, skating clubs & other groups
Rees’ Pieces - April 2024 - A Worrisome Crossroad?
During the past five+ years Nova Scotia has been performing much better, and Canada-wide our economy has been out performing other provinces. This was particularly noticeable during the devastating CoVid years.
People from across Canada were purchasing their new-Nova Scotia home simply by viewing video footage from a real estate agent. Ironic as it might seem they weren’t buying where the lights are bright and neon signs are everywhere.
No they wanted small town, a peaceful rural area, or even farther remote, in areas where Nova Scotians would say, "we have to come out to hunt". It worked for them then and it worked for us, because on a Canada-wide basis, we developed a reputation based on: peaceful, friendly, less expensive and not overcrowded.
The positive attitude of Premier Tim Houston is one of the things that keeps us going today. He hasn’t gotten everything right, but he is not afraid to invest money to try to solve a problem, like healthcare, housing and other areas.
Bridge This Year? By Maurice Rees
It’s been a long haul, but it’s completion is getting near. NSTIR and NS Public Works expect the new Bass River Bridge will be completed this year.
The tender is out and closes on April 6th. To be constructed of wood similar to the Roger Bacon Bridge in Nappan, inside sources indicate the bridge has already been ordered.
Original thinking was a concrete bridge as the favoured option, but it’s drawback was a requirement of raising the roadway and bridge deck as much as 6-9 feet higher than current levels. If this route were to have chosen the main culprit was the thickness of the concrete beams, which must be a certain height above anticipated water levels of the river.
After a lot of community consultation and public opposition especially from the volunteer members associated with Veterans Memorial Park, as community opposition continued to escalate, local MLA, Tom Taggart, who writes a monthly column in the Shoreline Journal floated the idea of a wooden bridge in one of his columns nearly two years ago.
Taggart’s idea gained a lot of traction for multiple reasons. It was suspected a wooden bridge would lower the road elevation, because it would not have 5-6 feet thick concrete beams, and something wooden would be in line with the contribution lumbering and how Dominion Chair Factory shaped the evolution of the area.
If you read MLA Taggart’s column starting on Page five, there is one major thing for the public be involved-in and that is "naming" the bridge. He is going to report in next month’s issue the process of how a new bridge is names. Get your thinking caps on.
The current bridge is well past its "use before" date. Local residents have been worried one of the large lumber trucks could go through the deck on any given day. Another fear local residents have expressed for several years is the speed of traffic to navigate the 90 degree turn in front of the Dominion Chair Factory Store.
Safety will be increased because westward traffic going down the shore toward Parrsboro (From Great Village) will encounter as stop sign before proceeding onto Maple Avenue which is being altered to accept traffic at approximately the mid-point of the gradual slope.
A large graphic of NSTIR / Public Works expectations is presented on the centrefold of this issue. The bridge and it’s approaches will veer to the right requiring relocation of the Logger’s Demonstration Park. Where the park will be relocated is not finalized, but cordial, yet firm discussions are ongoing.
The iconic Veterans Memorial Park (VMP), which started in 2008 was the other group most affected. At times, the Board of Directors were fearful, with new bridge it would loose it’s entrance and entire parking lot and endangering some of the trees planted in honour of "those fallen". Cordial discussions and good communications would have resulted in NSTIR and Public Works ensuring the park will not be overly affected. To ensure NSTIR and Public Works management promises are kept, there is speculation an engineer, whose job will be to ensure contractors working on the project do on encroach upon VMP and the promises made by management will be honoured.
The tender for the bridge construction closes on April 6th. With a NSTIR self-imposed deadline of completion before year’s end construction is expected to start within week. A lot of the pre-construction has been ongoing during the past month. NS Power has been setting new poles to re-align electricity across the highway. When completed the power lines will be on the left side of the bridge for those motorists who are entering the village from Great Village.
A warning to all. For the months remaining in 2024, there will be traffic disruptions, dust, lots of noise, slow moving trucks and construction equipment all over the place. Keep your cool, smile as you think of the increased safety and driving across a new bridge.
Enjoy the warmer temperatures. Stay safe. -Maurice
2024 E-Voting Tender Call
The Municipality of the County of Colchester (the "Municipality") invites qualified and experienced vendors to submit proposals for the provision of an Alternative Voting Electronic Voting Services (E-voting) solution for its 2024 Municipal Election.
The tender closes 3:00 pm, April 11, 2024
Charges Following Cross-border Firearms Investigation
In January, the Nova Scotia RCMP's Federal Policing section received information from law enforcement officials in the United States that a Nova Scotian was attempting to purchase a prohibited firearm online. A 51-year-old man and 15-year-old youth, both from Millbrook First Nation are facing numerous charges after an international firearms investigation.
"Federal Policing received a tip from Homeland Security Investigations that an individual in the Millbrook area was trying to buy a Glock 19, which is a semi-automatic pistol, from the United States via a social media platform," says Superintendent Jason Popik, Federal Policing Criminal Operations Officer with the Nova Scotia RCMP. "As a result of this information and our subsequent investigation, we executed a search warrant at a residence and made two arrests."
Following a February 16 search of a home in Millbrook First Nation, the following items were seized: 17 unsecured firearms and ammunition; Two prohibited 9mm over-capacity magazines; Computers, a 3D printer, filament, and tools for manufacturing firearms and ore than 225,000 contraband cigarettesm
With assistance from Millbrook RCMP and Service Nova Scotia Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel & Tobacco Division, a 51-year-old man and a 15-year-old youth, both from Millbrook First Nation, were safely taken into custody and later released on conditions.
The 51-year-old will be charged with: Contravention of Use, Storage, Handling and Transport Regulations; Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Device; Possession of a Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized; Selling Tobacco Products and Raw Leaf Tobacco; Possessing Tobacco on Which Tax has Not Been Paid (Nova Scotia Revenue Act); Possessing Tobacco Not Bearing a Prescribed Mark (Nova Scotia Revenue Act) and Unlawfully Possessing Unstamped Tobacco (Excise Act, 2001);
The youth, who was in possession of a 3D printed firearm at the time of their arrest, will be facing the following charges: Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized; Possession of Weapon Obtained by Commission of Offence; Manufactures or Transfers Firearms/Weapons Knowing It Is Unauthorized and Possession of Computer Data for Purpose of Manufacturing/Trafficking Firearm;
The 15-year-old appeared in Truro Provincial Youth Court on May 6 and the 51-year-old will appear in Truro Provincial Court on May 8.
Local MLA’s Award Community Grants
Three local area MLA’s shared the spotlight recently by announcing various community groups who will receive funding from a number of community grant programs. MLA’s were Tom Taggart MLA, Colchester North; Larry Harrison MLA, Colchester Musquodoboit Valley and John A MacDonald MLA, Hants East. A total of 18 grants under ??? programs were announced in mid-March. The programs included: Communities Facilities Improvement Program, Community ACCESS-Ability Program and Recreation Facility Development Grant Program,
The award grants are as follows:
Communities Facilities Improvement Program –
Under the Communities Facilities Improvement Program, applicants will receive support to improve their facilities by enabling important repairs and improvements to the interior and exterior features of their buildings. Through this program, local organizations will continue providing the public access to their facilities and help them maintain a lasting impact for the people in our communities
Tom Taggart, MLA, Colchester North
Larry Harrison MLA – Colchester - Musquodoboit Valley
John A MacDonald, MLA – Hants East
- Maitland and District Volunteer Fire Department is receiving $35,163 in funding for repairs to flooring, installation of heat pumps, and replacement of windows and doors.
Community ACCESS-Ability Program
Investment in local development project originates from the Community ACCESS-Ability Program, which offers cost-shared grants to community groups for capital improvements related to accessibility. Through this program, the funding supports initiatives aimed at enhancing accessibility for individuals with diverse needs.
John A MacDonald, MLA, Hants East
Recreation Facility Development Grant Program
With this investment from the Recreation Facility Development Grant Program, not-for-profit groups, Municipalities, and Mi’kmaq Band Councils will receive support as they develop, upgrade, or renovate recreation facilities. Through this program, local organizations will be able to increase access to sport and recreation programming in our communities.
John A MacDonald, MLA, Hants East
- The Enfield, Elmsdale and District Lions Club in Enfield will receive $35,000 for a new pickleball facility.
Recreation Trail Expansion Program:
Larry Harrison MLA – Colchester - Musquodoboit Valley
- The Municipality of the County of Colchester will receive $47,102.51 for Stewiacke River Park Trail Bridge Replacement.
Front Page Briefs - April 2024
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The Shoreline Journal returns to Facebook April 1st, 2024 - no foolin'! See the latest tidbits & teasers from our roving reporters & photographers, weigh in on local issues, and offer constructive comments that reflect your shoreline lifestyle. Like our Page at the current address so we can get a shorter url lol! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557349511861&mibextid=ZbWKwL See advertisement on Page 3 – 25 Free Subscriptions. Unfortunately, " I must announce the 90th birthday party, which was transitioning to 80th Birthday party has been postponed", Maurice Rees, publisher, announced this week. He added, we are not abandoning the concept, locally catered events are much more difficult to arrange sic and hope to reorganize differently. Nova Scotians are still suffering from the effects of CoVid and the pool of volunteers to do the catering is much smaller. We will find a way to recognize local residents who are 80 and older.The Nova Scotia RCMP is alerting the public to the ongoing threat of investment fraud, which is costing Nova Scotians millions. Investment fraud schemes continue to target unsuspecting individuals. In 2023, Nova Scotians lost over $4.9 million to investment fraud, making it the number one scam by dollar value. You can protect yourself by following these tips: Exercise caution, Do your research and Seek advice. If you, or someone you know, is the victim of investment fraud, report it to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. For more information visit: https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htmThe 2024 Village Follies Dinner Theatre will once again be held at the Debert Legion. Tickets are now on sale for May 3rd, 9th, and 10th performances of "The Werewolves of Londonderry". To order tickets please email thevillagefollies@gmail.com with your name, date and number of tickets. For more information phone 902-662-3710. Dr Karen Ewing, Chair, Veterans Memorial Park, Bass River and several board members appeared before Colchester Council at a presentation meeting to update council on recent park activities and to request the grant received upon application annually, be added as a line item in the budget. Alexis MacLaughlin, on behalf of Economy Recreation Centre appeared before council to explain in recent years nearly all fund raising activities has been to pay the heating bill, rather than expanding programs. During the presentation she requested assistance and guidance on installing heat pumps, or solar panels to get off furnace oil and then concentrate on expanding programs and services to the community. The County of Colchester invites qualified and experienced vendors to submit proposals for the provision of an Alternative Voting Electronic Voting Services (E-voting) solution for its 2024 Municipal Election. The tender call closes at 3:00 pm April 11, 2024. |
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| THE SOUTH CUMBERLAND NEWS April 2024 | |
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Read our special 4 page Portapique pull-out section from our May 2021 issue...
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