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The Shoreline Journal is a monthly community newspaper based in Bass River, Nova Scotia, and serving the Fundy Shore/Glooscap Trail from Truro to Parrsboro. See submission deadlines...
Established in 1994, the paper 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 the husband and wife team of Maurice & Dorothy Rees. They 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. Dorothy is a lady of many interests who added new features to the Journal in particular her Kitchen Korner. Since November 2008 she has operated her own business, Dorothy’s T-shirt Factory, later renamed to “tshirtsrus.ca”. The energetic couple have a busy schedule as they are also sales agents for Nelson Monuments and also travel frequently to annual Nova Scotian festivals selling t-shirts.
On-line issues: This Month Issue Archives - April 2009 to last month
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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 |
| Dorothy's 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
The Shoreline Journal
February 2019 Issue follows:
Before you read any further, please understand, I am not abandoning my position of the urgency improved internet and cell services for rural areas. However, there are a few things, which must be solved immediately prior to and are part of resurrecting the rural economy.
The build-out of any area for internet service is 24-30 months, and up to five years to complete provincially. There is greater urgency to solve matters inhibiting improving the rural areas.
So here goes the list then I’ll expand on each one:
- Rural Job losses
- Healthcare employment reduced
- Resource industry declines
- Northern Pulp Mill
50% deposit required on flooding projects
By Maurice Rees
A flood damage program designed to assist property owners whose property is subject to flooding has hit a snag. The program was last updated in 2015. However, since 2016/17, the program administered by the Flood Advisory Committee, has encountered problems with property owners paying their "previously agreed-upon" share.
Although amounts or property owner names were not provided, in 2016/17 the committee was involved in eleven cost shared projects. Five of the projects were not paid on-time, and as of early January 2019 four projects still have outstanding amounts.
At their meeting of December 4, 2018, the Flood Advisory Committee passed a motion recommending the policy be updated to require property owners deposit 50% of their estimated share of project costs prior to the start of any work on their property. The changes require payment of 50% of the property owner’s estimated cost share prior to the start of any work. Property owners may still choose to repay the remaining 50% over a year, either as a lump sum, or with 12 equal monthly payments.
The available reduction in applicant’s costs are as follows: Residential Property 75%; Commercial Property 50%; Active Farmland 25%; vacant residential land 10%; vacant commercial land 10% and vacant farmland 10%. Council committee’s recommendation will be formalized at the monthly meeting on January 31.
Funding Announcement
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, was at Masstown Butcher and Creamery on Jan. 10th to announce a $277,950 contribution from the Government of Canada, through ACOA's Business Development Program, to Taste of Nova Scotia to support the sustainable growth of food tourism in Nova Scotia. Speakers at funding announcement were (left to right) Bill Casey, Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester, The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Laurie Jennings, Masstown Market, Emily Haynes, Executive Director, Taste of Nova Scotia and Geoff MacLellan, Minister of Business. (Harrington Photo)
Cannabis Committee Being Disbanded
By Maurice Rees
Colchester Council Committee is recommending the Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee be disbanded after just one meeting on December 11th. The Committee brain stormed a possible list of concerns including:
Use in public spaces; Use in municipal places and spaces; Location of cannabis sale; Workplace policy and Economic development.
Upon review of the various topics, the Ad Hoc Committee recognized several of the items are covered under Provincial legislation or are out of council’s jurisdiction at this time. The Committee did suggest the following recommendations to Council: Amend the Municipality’s Smoke Free Outdoor Recreational Spaces Policy by including cannabis consumed by smoking, vaping (e-cigarettes), and waterpipes; Police Review Committee track trends since legalization and advise Council of any policy/ by-law support required and ask RCMP to track expenditures that could be allocated to the Municipality.
Other recommendations included: the Municipal Alcohol Policy Committee expand their mandate to include cannabis and report back to Council as warranted; Council request staff track any Municipal costs resulting from the legalization of recreational cannabis; The Municipality track provincial regulation of private, boutique sales and the sale of edibles to determine if there is a municipal role in regulation and finally, the Cannabis Committee be disbanded.
Solar Colchester PV Program Expected Soon
By Maurice Rees
Colchester property owners can expect, in late spring 2019, the municipality to roll-out of "Solar Colchester" to encourage the installation of residential Solar PV systems. Details have not been finalized, but the municipality would participate in bulk purchasing to lower the price, the finance purchase and installation. All costs would be added to the tax bill, paid over a certain period of time. The transactions would include a "lien" on the property.
During council’s committee meeting on January 10th approval was given to move the Solar Colchester PACE By-law to first reading on January 31, 2019. The PACE By-law is required to establish the mechanism and conditions by which the Municipality can loan and recoup funds under the Solar Colchester program.
On November 28th, council accepted the RFP proposal of Supernova Energy Solutions and instructed staff begin designing a ‘Solar Colchester’ program to encourage the installation of Solar PV systems in Colchester. The Colchester program is being modelled after a similar program in HRM.
Acceptance of the RFP created a partnership between Colchester and Supernova Energy Solutions to design and implement a Municipal Solar PV Program. Staff have been working with Bruce Thompson of Supernova Energy Solutions to design the Program and application process, with the hope of launching the Program in the Spring of 2019.
The Solar Colchester PACE By-law will permit the Municipality to charge interest on the Solar Energy Improvement Charge. It does not, however, establish a lending rate/interest rate for financing solar projects; a rate must be decided at a later date and enacted through policy. Staff are recommending the Program focus on residential projects in the beginning. The scale of a commercial project could limit the Municipality’s ability to support more projects.
The
Municipal Program is also being designed to compliment Efficiency NS’s
residential solar rebate. Depending upon interest, the Program could be
amended to include commercial applications in future years.
DFNS- Derick Canning
Gerrit Damsteegt presents retiring director Derick Canning with a token of appreciation on behalf of the DFNS Board of Directors.
Page One Briefs - February 2019
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STRESS RELIEF: Remember back when we were kids and every
time it was below zero out they closed school? Me neither. Why
do I have to press one for English when they’re just going to
transfer me to someone I can't understand anyway? We are searching for area residents who will be 90 in 2019, or are older and have not attended the Shoreline Journal’s Annual 90 & 90+ birthday party. We ask you to send the name, birthday and phone number of area residents, even if they have attended previously. We don’t want to miss anyone. Party will be held in Economy on May 11, 2019. Please send details to Maurice Rees, 902-647-2968, or maurice@theshorelinejournal.com Nova Scotia’s political scene is changing. A couple of months ago Bill Casey, who has represented the Cumberland-Colchester area in Ottawa for a period spanning 30 years, announced he would not be re-offering in the 2019 Federal Election. On January 10th Scott Brison who has represented the Kings-Hants riding for 22 years announced he will be spending more time with his four-year old twins and will not seek re-election. Medical teams and patients at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax will soon have faster access to critical information needed for diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuries. A partnership between Nova Scotia Health Authority and Synaptive Medical Inc. will see the installation of a dedicated magnetic resonance imaging machine, commonly known as an MRI, in the emergency department. REDspace is a full-service digital studio specializing in mobile, web, video and gaming for media brands and networks including Turner, NBC, FOX, Viacom, and Sony Pictures. The company provides new ways for its clients to deliver interactive experiences to its users around the world. Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) has approved a business development incentive in the form of a payroll rebate for REDspace Inc. to expand its operations in Bedford. REDspace Inc. has the potential to create up to 125 jobs under the five-year payroll rebate agreement. Based on the maximum growth forecast of the agreement, NSBI estimates the company could spend $22,187,500 in salaries. It is also estimated the new employees would contribute provincial tax revenues of $2,518,000 through their income and consumption taxes. As a result, the company would earn a rebate up to $1,497,500 over five years. More immigrants have been approved to make Nova Scotia their home in 2018. Government approved 2,272 people to come through immigration programs, up from 1,651 in 2017. Nova Scotia is also on track for a record number of landings in 2018. Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, 5,225 newcomers have made Nova Scotia home. With two months of reporting to go, landings will likely surpass the 2016 record year of 5,485. More information on the Office of Immigration can be found at: www.novascotiaimmigration.com Road reclassifications to allow efficient truck axle configurations will help make the trucking and forestry industries in Nova Scotia more competitive. The change allows B-trains - two trailers linked together by a fifth wheel - to travel on additional roads, enabling the movement of more materials at one time. This configuration reduces damage to roads because the weight is spread out over more axles. This change represents annual savings of $7 million to the industries. It contributes to government's $25 million red tape reduction target. Government expects the change to become effective by next fall. A projected surplus of $27.3 million down $2.1 million from the budget estimate of $29.4 million was presented by Minister of Finance and Treasury Board Karen Casey on December 19th. Highlights of the forecast update include: total revenue is projected to be up $51.6 million from budget to $10.86 billion; prior years' adjustments for provincial revenue sources are forecast to be negative $19.4 million; revenue from an excise tax on recreational cannabis has been revised down by $6.3 million primarily due to the later legalization date; expenses have been revised up $57.9 million from budget and, with consolidation adjustments, are $10.84 billion and additional appropriations are needed, totalling $64.9 million, for health-care services, health-related information technology projects, transportation, community and infrastructure projects and funding for universities. For more information, see the Department of Finance and Treasury Board website at https://beta.novascotia.ca/budget-forecast-updates |
Read the Journal on-line!
The entire issue is available on line in pdf format - browse through the paper page by page, read as little or as much as you like. Click for Issue Archives...
| February 2019 issue | |
| THE SOUTH CUMBERLAND NEWS February issue | |
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