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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
January 2019 Issue follows:
January 2019 - I am disgusted and disappointed.
Two things have upset me to no end and I’m not sure what I can do, or what should be done.
First, I have been following with great interest the province’s initiative to develop a $500-Million program dealing with Electronic Health Records (EHR).
The second is the recent approach develop Nova Scotia has recently announced to bring High Speed Internet service to rural and under serviced areas of the province.
In both cases its my opinion recent approaches have not been grassroots oriented, and may not be in the best interests of rural Nova Scotians needed improved internet service. With regard to EHR desires, which is a good idea, but I’m fearful there will be significant cost overruns, or the technology might not be advanced enough to permit Doctors to use with ease and efficiency.
Green Diamond Kids -Santa
Grace and Rielly Matthews had a nice visit with Santa during the ‘John Deere Kids Day’ held Nov. 24th at Green Diamond on Hub Drive, Onslow. More ‘John Deere Kids Day’ can be found on page 19 of your Shoreline Journal. (Harrington Photos)
West Colchester to co-host Winter Carnival
By Maurice Rees
Craig Burgess, Director Recreation Services, is leading Colchester’s participation to co-host a mid-February winter carnival that will include West Colchester communities from Great Village to Parrsboro. Planning is underway for the 1st annual Fundy Shore Winter Carnival, February 14-18.
The organizing committee will strive to get as many community groups involved with a variety of winter-based activities and to create some winter excitement and host fundraisers. Other areas in Cumberland South including Advocate, Port Greville, Diligent River and Southampton will also include a variety of activities.
February is "Winter Carnival" time. Debert has an annual event, plus the Long John Festival in Truro will be held at the same weekend as the proposed event along the shore which will include the shore communities in Cumberland and Colchester Counties.Although the schedule has not been concluded a quick rundown of what is being planned includes: Focus on involving as many communities along the Fundy shore as possible; Chili cook-off in local communities, leading to one large cook-off among the winners of each; Snowmen in as many communities as possible (like "pumpkin people"); All snowmen should be wearing scarves – tying in the winter and warmth theme; "Knitting Bombs" in many local areas where scarves can be made for snowmen and Lots of focus on play and getting people outdoors and active.
An email campaign will be conducted to reach as many community groups as possible encouraging their participation and asking them to promote the event in their local communities. It was noted in Parrsboro there are 120 elementary and 140 high school students. Along the shore school students in Bass River, and Great Village will be contacted to increase activities and participation. The goal of the carnival is to connect communities and to get people physically active.
Other groups to be contacted are those who regularly host: Open Mics; bingo, snowmobilers, community halls, senor’s groups, fire departments, fitness & exercise organizations. More structured organizations will be encouraged to be part of the festive weekend include: ADDA, WCCDA, Parrsboro Creative, Museums and Libraries.
The planning group which held its first meeting at the Lion’s Den, Parrsboro December 3rd included: Don Fletcher, Cumberland Councillor for District 10, plus Kristen Willigar, Colleen Dowe, Taylor Redmond, Vicki Weaver, John Brownlie, and Terri Ashley. Four additional representatives from Cumberland unable to attend included Lynne Langille, Barb Aris, David Howe and Stephanie Moreau.
Craig Burgess, Director Parks and Recreation was the sole representative from Colchester, when Councillor tom taggart was unable to attend. Reaching out to area schools will be an important part of the planning process.
The group selected February 14-18th as appropriate dates because it encompasses Valentine’s Day, February 14th, Flag Day, Feb 15th and Family day, Feb 18th.
To give community groups an idea of what activities might be possible, the group developed a list of suggestions: walking groups, washer toss, show shoeing, snow show clinics, figure skating, chili cook-off, chowder cook-off, learn to sledge, sliding / tobogganing, show maze with snow blowers creating the maze, community built snowmen, geocaching, a snow dig with canisters containing prizes and ringette, plus a lot more fun activities.
Community groups who would like to participate or get more information should contact Craig Burgess, Colchester, Director Recreation Services at 902-897-3181, or cburgess@colchester.ca. Groups from Cumberland are asked to contact: Vicki Weaver, Recreation & Physical Activity Coordinator at Phone 902-667-6367m or vweaver@cumberlandcounty.ns.ca
Open houses - January 16th & 22nd
By Maurice Rees
The County of Colchester will hold two open houses at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre on January 16th and 22nd to consult with the public on proposed changes to by-laws regulating commercial kennels. A notification was included in the municipal newsletter. The council has been promoting an on-line survey on its website. Home page at www.colchester.ca provides a link to the survey which will remain posted until December 31st.
Some dog owners and kennel operators, who have contacted the Shoreline Journal have expressed concern about the county’s approach to input. A representative of one company which is a large supplier of dog food and accessories expressed amazement at the approach. "Nearly every month there are media reports of councillors complaining about the lack of internet service, yet they resort to an on-line survey for input. How many dog owners and kennel operators are they missing?", the representative stated. He continued, "It seems like they are waiting until the last minute by hiding behind a computer screen and don’t want to face the public on this very sensitive issue".
A message on the county’s website stated, "We need your input! Thank you for taking the time to complete this short survey about commercial dog kennels, as we consider adoption of a bylaw in Colchester. This survey is one of many opportunities that the general public and stakeholders will have to contribute their perspectives on this matter. More information can be found within the survey and in your December Municipal Newsletter".
To take this survey, please follow this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WYFY7Q5
Another company representative whose income is generated through health-care for animals stated, every councillor should have been holding a public meeting in their constituency. "How can they determine what is required and how the taxpayers feel, if they won’t meet with their constituents within their electoral district?"
The municipality has indicated it would be talking to stakeholders such as breeders, trainers, commercial boarding business owners, vet clinics and rescue groups. The two public sessions will not include any formal presentations at the sessions to be held on January 16 at the RECC from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm. Interested persons are encouraged to drop in and talk to staff and Planning Advisory Committee members.
January 22nd will be a presentations night with the Planning
Advisory Committee, starting at 7pm. The municipality is taking names of
those interested in presenting. If numbers dictate the municipality is
willing to hold additional meetings.
Stay out of the water!
Garnet and Alexia McLaughlin, of Cobequid Trail Consulting, designed and oversaw construction of the new sand kitchen on the grounds of the Chignecto Elementary School, which came together over three or four weekends of volunteers help. The wooden shark is a nice replica of the school’s mascot and a favourite of the students.
RCMP erases comments in report
By Maurice Rees
RCMP’s erasure of critical comments in the copy of "The 2004 RCMP Report" sent to Bill Casey, MP has riled him up, but he remains diplomatic. Casey has been pressuring for the RCMP not to close its Emergency Communications Centre in Truro and move it to Dartmouth.
Casey discovered the erasure, when he compared the copy the RCMP sent to him, with another copy he obtained from another source.
As a result Casey has asked the federal Auditor General to intervene and review four reports, which were sent to the Auditor General with the plea for help. The 2004 RCMP Report specifically recommended "the RCMP not locate their primary OCC within the Halifax Regional Municipality", and "the OCC Primary service delivery site be outside of HRM due to risks of placing 2 largest police communications centres in close proximity to each other".
Casey maintains none of the facts that caused that conclusion have changed; if anything, the threats are even greater today. Casey believes the RCMP"s erasure of critical comments in the copy provided to him will be of particular to the Auditor General.
On November 28th he issued a press release after he had asked has asked the Auditor General of Canada, Mr. Michael Ferguson to review the proposal by the RCMP to consolidate their Operational Communication Center in Dartmouth.
Casey provided four reports by leading authorities in Emergency Communications which all state that redundancy is a key to ensuring a safe emergency communication system. The RCMP plan eliminates redundancy already in place.
Currently one emergency communication center is in Truro and one is in Dartmouth near the RCMP Headquarters. This 100 kilometer distance provides the geographic distance recommended in these reports in order to ensure that at least one facility is operational. The RCMP proposal removes this safety measure.
Casey said "Just ten days ago a perceived bomb threat caused the closure and evacuation of the Coast Guard facilities in Dartmouth. If both of the Communications centers and the RCMP Headquarters were closed and evacuated because they are all located in Dartmouth, most of the province would be without 911 service, fire or ambulance communications. Police communications would be severely curtailed.
One source reports that in recent years, Halifax Regional Police have investigated over 70 bomb threats and laid charges in five. Seven were reported in one 48 hour span. Casey has asked the RCMP to hold off any decision until the Auditor General compares the four emergency measures reports with the plans of the RCMP.
Below are quotes from the four reports:
The 2004 RCMP Report specifically recommended that "the RCMP not locate their primary OCC within the Halifax Regional Municipality", and "the OCC Primary service delivery site be outside of HRM due to risks of placing 2 largest police communications centres in close proximity to each other". None of the facts that caused that conclusion have changed; if anything, the threats are even greater today. The RCMP erased these critical comments in the copy provided to Casey.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is considered the lead authority in emergency communications. Their recent report entitled the "2019 National Fire Protection Association #1221 requires that " #4.1.6.1 The alternative communications center shall be separated geographically from the primary communications center at a distance that ensures the survivability of the alternative center." The RCMP proposal is just the reverse of this requirement.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 2009 report states "Organizations should have adequate, separate locations to ensure execution of their functions. Physical dispersion should allow for easy transfer of function responsibility in the events of a problem at one location." Again the RCMP proposal is exactly the opposite of this requirement.
The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) 2015 Report states "Redundant and resilient systems are needed to continue operation when a failure causes the loss or damage of a needed resource". The RCMP plan is to eliminate that redundancy. The NENA Report recommends "two layers of redundancy" and also states that emergency call Centers "face more risks and threats than ever before."
Parliamentary Security Services examined the failure of communications during the 2014 shootings in the Parliament of Canada. Their study concluded that a second, off site communications center was required to provide redundancy. Again, the RCMP plan is to eliminate the redundancy they currently have in Nova Scotia.
Casey said "I am not an expert in emergency communications but these organizations are. They can’t all be wrong."
Page One Briefs - January 2018
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STRESS RELIEF: On an old man's shirt was written a
sentence, "I am not 91 years old ... I am sweet 16 with 75 years
experience ". That's ATTITUDE. John Ross and Sons Ltd, gets innovation rebate. Incorporated in 1955, the company specializes in the purchasing, grading, handling and processing of scrap metals from manufacturers, contractors, recycling yards and individuals. The company is investing in new technology to increase its capacity in markets outside Nova Scotia. The Halifax-based company is proceeding with a $4.5 million total capital investment to install a wire and cable recycling plant. The plant takes raw material and by using a range of technologies and processes, refines, separates and sorts the material into separate components. This new plant will allow the company to extract high-valued materials more efficiently, and in turn, will increase productivity and capacity. The company is eligible to earn a maximum innovation rebate of $1,070,296 upon completion of its project, based on eligible capital spending of $4.5 million. Wentworth Valley Wilderness Area’s designation will help create year-round tourism and business opportunities for Nova Scotians while protecting forest and habitat for wildlife. Environment Minister Margaret Miller announced the designation of the new 1,954-hectare wilderness area in Colchester and Cumberland counties on November 26th. "Ski Wentworth has been exploring opportunities to expand into four season operation. With the Wentworth Valley Wilderness Area protected, it will further enhance this region as a destination for four season eco-tourism," said Leslie Wilson, president of Ski Wentworth. "The Wentworth Valley Wilderness Area will help ensure wildlife sanctuary and recreational opportunities for a healthier Nova Scotia population." Ms. Miller also announced the designation of two other protected areas near Oxford, Cumberland Co. Chase Lake Wilderness Area covers 874 hectares and Steepbank Brook Nature Reserve covers 202 hectares. Government to Improve Forest Practices Changes to forest practices will increase ecological protection and biodiversity, and lead the province to a more sustainable forestry sector. The changes follow recommendations by University of King's College president Bill Lahey in a review of forest practices was submitted to government in August. Government's response to the report was released today, December 3. The department will move forward with the following priority actions: protect and enhance ecosystems and biodiversity as the department's overarching forest policy priority; implement what is known as the triad model of ecological forestry, which includes conservation areas, high-production forest areas and a combination when conservation and forestry objectives are blended; make revisions to the Forest Management Guide to place more emphasis on ecological values in the decision-making process; begin a peer review of the department's approach to natural disturbance regimes to ensure alignment with ecological forestry; increase the focus on wildlife and species at risk with a focus on health and recovery plans; improve openness, transparency and accountability of the department's decisions and explore opportunities for small-scale wood energy projects to allow low-quality wood to be used in heating public buildings, such as hospitals, schools, and government offices. Government's response to the report and the interim retention guidelines are available at https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestry/Forest_Review/Support for Mi'kmaw and African Survivors Government will work with Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian organizations to develop new supports for survivors of gender-based violence and their families. The federal and provincial governments are each committing up to $1 million over four years. Women and their families from these communities who are participating in Halifax's new Domestic Violence Court Program will have access and may be referred to the supports and services, as part of their court plans. Those involved in Domestic Violence Court Program will also contribute their expertise as part of the project's development. Information on Standing Together is available at www.novascotia.ca/standingtogether |
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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...
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| THE SOUTH CUMBERLAND NEWS December issue | |
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