There will be a meeting tonight from 6-8:30pm at St. Mary’s Academy for all children ages 12 to 18 interested in joining Army Cadets. There will also be weekly meetings from 6-8:30pm at the St. Mary’s Academy for this group.

St. Mary’s Academy Winter Carnival 2010 will be taking place at their school this week. Theme: Carnival for a Cause. They will be collecting food for the local food bank, as well as collecting coins for Haiti. The schedule for dress up day is as follows: Today is 70’s and 80’s Day, as well as Inside Out and Backwards day. Thursday is Cowboy and Cowgirl Day. The afternoon will feature karaoke performed by both teachers and students. Friday is Team Color Day or Jersey.

45’s Card Game at the Goldboro Interpretive Center for today has been cancelled, due to the passing of a member of the community.

If you are interested in being part of the new Rocky Shores Seniors Group in New Harbour & Beyond. Bring your friends this evening at 7pm at the Harbourview Community Center, New Harbour. For more information phone Shirley @ 387-2835.

Card Games every Wednesday night at 7:30 in the Skye Glen Community Hall.

45’s Card Games every Wednesday night at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall Charlos Cove. Starting time 7:30 pm.

Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library services will be available each Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:00 at the East Antigonish Education Centre in Monastery. Also available these evenings will be the TD Summer Reading Club for children of all ages. For more information please phone: 863-2486.

Eastern Counties Regional Library will be visiting Dalbrae Academy in Mabou today from 3:45 – 5:30 pm and 6:00 – 8:00 pm. For more information, call 747-2597.

Thursday, March 11

The Country Harbour Gun Club will be meeting tonight at 7:15pm followed by the Broadhorns A.T.V. Club meeting at 8:00pm.

St. Mary’s Academy Winter Carnival 2010 will be taking place at their school this week. Theme: Carnival for a Cause. They will be collecting food for the local food bank, as well as collecting coins for Haiti. The schedule for dress up day is as follows: Today is Cowboy and Cowgirl Day. The afternoon will feature karaoke performed by both teachers and students. Friday is Team Color Day or Jersey.

45 Card Game at Monseigner Donnelly Hall in Tracadie every Thursday night at 8pm. Bring a partner.

Eastern Counties Regional Library will be visiting the Centre Saint-Joseph in St. Joseph Du Moine today from 12:00 – 5:15 pm and 6:00 – 8:00 pm. For more information, call 747-2597.

Tonight from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., the New Glasgow Public Library will offer the free, public information session, “Personal Finances 101: Understanding Your Credit Score” for anyone seeking information on understanding credit and achieving financial goals with Financial Specialists, Elaine O’Donnell and Marilyn Penny. Light refreshments. Informal with Q & A period. For more information, please contact the library at 752-8233 or visit us online at www.parl.ns.ca.

The Club Sixty Seniors meeting in Antigonish will be held today at 2pm.

Friday, March 12

An Irish Tea Lunch with Friends on Friday, March 12th from 11:30am-1:30pm in the Regional Occupation Centre Society in D’Escousse. Entertainment: Doug MacKinnon. Donations to the Regional Occupation Centre Society.

A A Mid-Winter Roundup will on March 12th, 13th, 14th at the Sydney Academy High School, 49 Terrace Street in Sydney. For Enquiries on Pre-Registration call Trish at (902) 371-1939. A.A. and Al-anon Meetings will be all weekend. Talent Show Friday Night. Breakfast available Saturday & Sunday at 7:30 am.

Annual Lobster Dinner, sponsored by St. James United Church in Antigonish will be held at St. James United Church Hall on Friday, March 12th beginning at 11:00 am. Eat In or Take Out. To place an order, phone 863-2001 between 9am-3pm on March 12th.

General

The Antigonish SPCA has four beautiful cats available for adoption. All have been spayed or neutered and are ready for a loving home. If you are looking for a wonderful addition to your family, and would like to give these cats the second chance they deserve, please call the Antigonish SPCA today at 863-2111.

Is arthritis causing unwelcome changes in your lifestyle? Call The Arthritis Society for their free resource kit for people with arthritis. It includes information on nutrition and arthritis, the Top 10 exercises to relieve stiffness and pain, and much more. Call 1-800-321-1433, Ext. 233.

The Canadian Red Cross is seeking Volunteers to run the H.E.L.P. program at 36 Market Street. Please call 863-8222 for more information or stop by Mon-Friday 8:30-4:30 to pick up a volunteer application package.

St. Martha’s Hospital Auxiliary is asking if anyone has used books they may want to give to The “Gift Corner” shop for the book shelf. All donations of good used books will be gratefully accepted at the gift shop. Money raised by the volunteers at the Gift Shop is used to support St. Martha’s Regional Hospital.

Isle Madame Clothing and Crafts located above Isle Madame Daycare in D’escousse are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Proceeds go to the Richmond County Early Childhood Education Association and the Regional Occupation Centre Society.

Cribbage Games will be held at 4 Valley’s Fire Hall, every 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month at 1:30pm.

Dr. J. H. Gillis Players & the Harbour Players are looking for anyone interested in playing a small role in their production of Soh Wright and the Seven Mathletes. This play was co-written especially for the One Act play festival by the two groups and casting is becoming an issue as the One Acts are slated to take place during the high school March break when many students go away with their families. We are still looking for someone to play the parts of Doc (male, 10-15 lines/ one solo song and chorus), Sleepy (male or female/ very few lines chorus singing only) and Dopey (male or female, 15-20 lines/ chorus singing only) This play is a hilarious parody of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and it would truly be a shame to scrap it at this point. If you or someone you know may be interested in participating in this production in any way please contact Catherine Meery at catherinemeery@hotmail.com or Caleb MacIsaac at calebmacisaac@hotmail.com

FS: Box cap to fit a Ford F150, Super Cab 5 ½ feet and a washer. 867-0244.

FS: Safety 1st rear facing car seat for up to 20 lbs. 783-2092.

FS: Bontempi electric organ, with programmable drums, bass etc. storage stool included. 863-0870.

FS: new slow cooker and a left handed Yamaha Acoustic Guitar, soft case included. 863-1393.

FS: twin stroller. 863-6879.

FS: 1996 Ford Windstar for parts and an old fashioned desk. 783-2310.

FS: brand new exhaust, 4 spoke wheels & tires for a 2000 Chev S10 truck. 386-2457.

WTB: firewood. 863-3129.

WTB: a young, medium to large size dog, must be good with children. TGA: love seat, suitable for a cottage. 863-6402.

FS: wood furnace. 863-4629 after 6pm.

For more Information on the Exchange visit 989xfm.ca

Lost: a set of keys on a key chain in the Antigonish area in February. One of the keys is a Honda Key. 863-0303.

March 5:

Found: A 4 GB Centon memory stick for a computer: it is metallic dark beige in color and it is a “DataStick Pro”. If you’re missing it, since a couple months or so, please call 863-0415.

Feb 26:

Found: a pair of ladies black leather gloves around Tim Horton’s on Main Street, Antigonish, next to the Plum Tree. They can be picked up at the front desk at XFM, 85 Kirk St., Antigonish – Monday to Friday from 8am-5pm.

Lost: a sum of money between Antigonish & New Glasgow on Wednesday, Feb 24th. 867-4001.

Feb 23:

Found: a light brownish colored cat in the Doctor’s Brook area. 863-2387.

Feb 22:

Lost: Ladies glasses on Sunday at the Antigonish Mall. Glasses are rectangle shape and have Alfred Sung on the arm. 863-3744.

Found: a dog, off white in colour. May be claimed by calling 863 4346.

Feb 18:

Lost: a large grey/white cat in the Brierly Brook area, wearing a collar and answers to Percy. 735-2893.

Feb 16:

Found: small gold coloured dog with short hair and a collar, but no tags. Taylor’s Road area. 867-1379.

Dave Synishin

Tonight, all six teams will gather for the C-I-S awards banquet.  Play starts tomorrow, with two time defending championship McGill facing Montreal and Wilfrid Laurier tangling with Alberta. The St. F-X plays its first game Friday night.

March 10, 2010    Signs Stolen in Arichat area

Richmond County R-C-M-P are looking for someone who has taken a number of signs in the area.  Police say last weekend about 60 signs were stolen from the Isle Madame A-T-V Riders Trails in the Arichat and West Arichat areas.  So far no arrests have been made.  So far, no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Richmond County R-C-M-P or Crimestoppers.

March 10, 2010                Empire  Company Earnings up in Q3

Profits are up for Stellarton-based Empire Company.  Empire is reporting third quarter earnings of 68.3 million dollars in the third quarter.  That’s up from 64.8 million during the same period last year.  Total revenue was up one per cent at 3.84 billion dollars.  Company President and C-E-O Paul Sobey says it was another solid quarter.  He points out its improving financial condition is due to the strong earnings performance of the Sobeys grocery chain.  Sobeys’ third quarter net earnings totalled 63.5 million dollars, up 18 per cent from a year ago

March 10, 2010            Sustainability Plan  Approved

Inverness County Council has adopted an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan.  Adoption of the plan is required for receiving federal excise tax revenue under an agreement between the the federal and provincial governments.  Warden Duart MacAulay says the document includes long-range infrastructure plans for the future, but there’s more than that.

Duart MacAulay
MacAulay says report also deals with how the county can assist the volunteer sector.

March 10, 2010        Festival Antigonish  fund-raiser Planned

Festival Antigonish is putting the finishing touches on preparations for its latest fund-raiser, a salute to the golden age of British Radio Comedies in the 1950’s and ‘60’s.  The production, called “Is this thing On?”, features two transplanted Brits, actor Jeremy Webb and Festival Antigonish Artistic Producer Ed Thomason.    Thomason says the production will re-create comedy skits from such British radio shows as “The Goon Show”, “Hancock’s Half Hour” and “Round the Horne”.  Thomason says those radio shows were very special.

Ed Thomason

“Is This Thing On?” plays for two nights at the Bauer this week.  Thursday  night will be a special gala event.  An Encore performance will be held the following night, on Friday.  Show time on both nights is 8 o’clock.

March 9, 2010                       Chittick case ajdourned

A 24-year-old Halifax man facing charges related to a New Year’s Eve party in Antigonish where a 25-year-old man died appeared briefly in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Antigonish Tuesday morning.  Jullian Frederick Chittick was in court to set dates for his trial, but that’s been delayed. He returns to court March 25th.  Chittick remains in custody.  Chittick earlier elected to be tried by Supreme Court Justice alone.   Chittick faces eight charges including weapons related offences, uttering threats, assault with a weapon and breach of a recognizance.  None of the charges against Chittick relate to the man who died at the party, Jonathan Beaton of Southside Harbour.

March 9, 2010          Men Fined for Illegal Duck Hunting

Two Cape Breton Men have been fined for illegal duck hunting. Joseph Allan Sampson of Samson’s Cove and Travis John Forgeron of West Arichat have been fined 15-hundred dollars each for exceeding the daily bag limit and an additional 15-hundred-dollars each for using lead shot to hunt a migratory game bird. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court.

March 9, 2010                    Call Centre Laying Off Staff

The Aditya Birla Minacs call centre in Port Hawkesbury is laying off staff.  The executive director of the company’s Eastern Canadian operations, Andrew Clarke says about 94 employees are being let go at the call centre, about half the staff who currently work at the centre.  The layoffs become effective at the end of April.  Clarke says the layoff is due to changes made by one of its clients.

Andrew Clarke

Clarke says the company remains committed to its Port Hawkesbury operation.  Clarke says Aditya Birla Minacs is working hard to get the call centre back to its optimal level.

March 9, 2010            Boudreau concerned about Biosphere Proposal

Inverness County Councillor Daniel Boudreau is speaking out about a proposal to designate the Bras D’or Lakes watershed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.   Boudreau read a 33 page letter at yesterday’s council meeting,  outlining his opposition to the proposal.  In his letter, Boudreau says he fears the creation of a biosphere will only bring hardships to the residents living within its boundaries.  He also worries it will bring an end to the mining industry, an end to the forestry industry as we know it, the elimination of oil and gas exploration both inland and along coastal waters and the eventual phase-out of the commercial fishery in the Bras D’or Lakes.  Speaking to reporters later, Boudreau says he’s concerned politicians are being asked to vote on these proposals without understanding the ramifications.

Daniel Boudreau

Inverness County Council turned down a request to support the Bras D’or Lake Biosphere proposal in September, 2008.

March 9, 2010                 St. Mary’s Education Centre to Close

St. Mary’s Education Centre in Sherbrooke is closing. At a special meeting in Sherbrooke last night, the Strait Regional School Board voted 8-to-3 in favour of closing the primary to grade 7 school and creating a renovated primary-to-grade 12 school at nearby St. Mary’s Academy. A common complaint expressed by parents like Danny Kirk was that the board was voting to close one school without presenting a detailed plan of what the new institution would be able to offer to students.

Danny Kirk

Prior the vote, the school board and staff  took questions for 3 hours from over 150 concerned parents, students, former board members, teachers, an RCMP constable and David Clark,  the Warden of the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s. Guysborough-Sheet Harbour M-L-A Jim Boudreau also addressed the audience. The atmosphere was emotionally charged but largely respectful.

March 9, 2010            Inverness County Residents still concerned about Coyotes

Residents of Inverness County are still worried about the possible threat  of being attacked by coyotes. Some are considering arming themselves before walking into the woods. Inverness County Councillor Gloria LeBlanc, who represents the Margaree area says she’s been asked by constituents  whether its legal to use a B-B gun in the woods for protection, if they’ve taken a hunter safety course.  LeBlanc says she can understand why people are concerned.

Gloria LeBlanc

LeBlanc says the county has an old by-law which makes the use of pellet guns illegal.  However, its unclear whether the by-law was ever enacted. Council has referred the issue to its policy committee for further study.

March 8, 2010       RCMP nab Impaired Drivers in Richmond County

Two Drivers in Richmond County are facing charges of impaired driving. The RCMP says a male was arrested in Louisdale on Sunday after refusing a breathalyzer test. The RCMP say the man faces charges of impaired driving, prohibited driving, and breach of probation. He was held in custody and overnight and released on conditions. Meanwhile, Richmond County  RCMP say a female driver is  facing charges of impaired driving by drugs and refusal to provide a breath sample to a Drug Recognition Expert. The RCMP say the woman was also wanted in connection with a separate investigation by the Cape Breton Regional Police. She was taken into custody and handed over to the Cape Breton Regional Police Monday morning. The RCMP in Richmond County says they also issued a number of  tickets over the weekend for other Motor Vehicle Act violations, including two charges of Driving with suspended license.

March 8, 2010        RCMP Look For Leads in Mabou Break-in

Inverness R-C-M-P are still trying to solve a break-in that occurred in Mabou last month.  Police say the incident was reported on February 18th at a secure building at 5189 Highway 252.  Taken were Mastercraft drills, ratchets, Bridgestone tires with rims, an electric impact wrench, drive sockets and other drill bits.  A black or blue Chevrolet industrial van was seen parked at the garage the night before the incident.  Anyone with information on this break-in is asked to contact the Inverness R-C-M-P or CrimeStoppers.

March 8, 2010       RCMP Investigate Margaree Break-In

Inverness R-C-M-P are investigating a break-in at the Ingraham’s Irving in Margaree on Saturday morning.  Police say sometime between midnight and 7 a.m, someone broke into the business and stole a large quantity of cigarettes and lottery tickets.  The value of the haul is estimated at more than five thousand dollars.  So far no arrests have been made.

March 8, 2010        Two Vehicle Crash Sunday near Addington Forks Intersection

Antigonish R-C-M-P say they’re investigating the cause of a two vehicle collision early Sunday afternoon on Highway 104.  Police say the crash occurred just past exit 31-A, the Addington Forks intersection.  Investigators say a west bound vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic.  Emergency Medical Services and Fire Rescue personnel were called to the scene.  The driver of the east bound car was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  Highway 104 was closed for a short period while the damaged cars were removed.  R-C-M-P says the weather was clear and road conditions were not a factor in the crash.  However, officers believe alcohol was a factor.

March 8, 2010            RCMP investigate Antigonish Car Theft

Antigonish R-C-M-P are investigating the theft of a car early yesterday morning.  Police say a 2003 Green Ford Focus was stolen, bearing Nova Scotia license plate E-P-R 369.  An Acadian Flag license plate was mounted on the front of the car. Anyone if any information about the theft is asked to contact the Antigonish R-C-M-P or Crimestoppers.

March 8, 2010                                    Local Artists Win at ECMA’s

Artists with connections to Northeastern Nova Scotia picked up trophies at Sunday’s East Coast Music Awards in Sydney.  They include Kim Wempe, who won the Rising Star Recording of the year award for “Where I need to Be”; and Andrea Beaton won the Instrumental Recording of the year for “Branches”.  Other winners include Dawn and Margie Breton, who took the Roots/Traditional Recording of the year for “Taste of Gaelic” and Jamie Sparks for R & B/Soul single track Recording for the remix “All I need”.  The Rankin Family was also presented with the Director’s Special Achievement Award.

March 5, 2010        Kenya Commissioner visits St.F.X
The High Commissioner of Kenya was on the campus of St. F. X today to extend an invitation to students who are preparing to travel to East African nation. His excellency Simon Nabukwesi will be on hand this evening to present a group of St. F. X. Education students with visa’s to travel to Kenya. The students will spend 6 weeks teaching at a public high school in Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Nabukwesi says the experience and culture will change their perceptions of the African nation.

Simon Nabukwesi
Nabukwesi says he was also taking the time to promote the relationship between Canada and Kenya, especially in the areas of education, noting that the Kenyan model is based on Canada’s Education system.

March 5, 2010                      Antigonish County Appeals Ruling

The County of Antigonish is launching an appeal after the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia  found in favour of Alva Construction in a case brought forward by  the Municipality. The County of Antigonish claimed that in November of 2007 Alva Construction trucked demolition debris outside of the county rather than take it to the Municipality’s Beech Hill Facility and pay the required tipping fees. Alva Construction admitted in an agreed upon Statement of Facts that the material was taken out of the County.. However, in a decision handed down in early January,  Supreme Court Justice Nick Scaravelli found the remedy for the County existed solely in charging the company under it’s own municipal by-laws, which it failed to do before a 6-month time limit expired. Scaravelli’s decision also required the County of Antigonish to pay 750-dollars to Alva Construction to cover the company’s legal fees in the case. The County’s appeal of the decision will be heard on June 9th.

March 5, 2010                     Blandford Appeals Conviction

A former Strait Regional School Board teacher found guilty of sexual assault last year is appealing his conviction.  David Paul Blandford of Antigonish was found guilty by a Provincial Court Judge in September.  In November, Blandford received a conditional discharge.  If Blandford satisfies all the conditions of his sentence he will be left without a criminal record.  The charge is in connection with an incident alleged to have occurred on October 5, 2007 at Tamarac Education Centre in Port Hawkesbury.  Blandford was a gym teacher at the school at the time.  A female student at the school testified at the trial last year that  Blandford slapped her on the buttocks as she walked by him at the conclusion of gym class.  Blandford denied the event took place at his trial. The appeal is scheduled to be heard next Thursday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Sydney.

March 4, 2010          Judique Native Signs NHL Deal

Lost but not forgotten in the frenzy of the Olympic Games and the NHL’s trade deadline day, Cape Breton native Andrew MacDonald has signed a four-year-extension with the New York Islanders. The 23-year-old from Judique was recalled from the Islanders AHL affiliate in Bridgeport in early November . Since his promotion, MacDonald  has played in 39 games with the NHL club,  scoring 1 goal and adding 5 assists. MacDonald was a sixth round pick of the Islanders back in 2006 after a junior career that began with Truro Bearcats of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

March 5, 2010    Thornton named CIS all Canadian

A member of the St. F-X Volleyball X-Women is a  C-I-S all-Canadian.  Second year Arts Student Catherine Thornton was named to the

Catherine Thornton

C-I-S First Team, during yesterday’s C-I-S women’s Volleyball Awards at the national championships in Edmonton.  Thornton, the A-U-S most valuable player this season, led the X-Women to the A-U-S final this year.  The X-Women lost to Saint Mary’s in the league final.

March 4, 2010                                 St. FX Students win Regional Competition

A group St. F-X University students has won a regional team business competition.  The University’s Students in Free Enterprise team has

Members of the St. FX Students in Free Enterprise Team

been named the Atlantic Green Challenge Champion at a contest in Halifax organized by the non-profit organization Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship.  At the event, the teams make a live presentation on their project to a judging panel of business professionals.  The Project Manager of the St. F-X team, Maura Casey, says their winning entry involved educating fellow university students about the benefits of composting.

Maura Casey

The St. F-X team beat out entries from four other Atlantic Universities to win the green competition.  They now advance to the national competition, to be held May 11th in Calgary.

March 4, 2010            Loans for Child Care Centres

Forty-five child care centres are getting about 1.3 million dollars in funding from the province to help repair or renovate their facilities. The loans can be used for upgrades such as  new windows, installing accessibility ramps and adding energy-efficient furnaces.  Each day care is eligible for a 75 per cent forgivable loan and can either pay the remaining 25 per cent or apply for a low-interest repayable loan from the province.  Commercial centres are eligible for a 25 per cent forgivable loan. They can pay the remaining 75 per cent, use third-party funding, or apply for a low-interest repayable loan from the department. In Northeastern Nova Scotia, there’s one centre that will receive support, the Lower South River Pre-School Society in St. Andrews, Antigonish County.  The province is providing more than 12-thousand dollars in funding.

March 4, 2010            Hit and Run  accident Investigation in Port Hawkesbury

Port Hawkesbury R-C-M-P are seeking the public’s help in solving a hit-and-run accident that occurred last Thursday.  Police say a grey Chevrolet Silverado parked near Shoppers Drug Mart was struck by an unknown vehicle.   The Silverado sustained significant damage.  There are no known witnesses to the incident.  If you have any information on the incident, your’re asked to contact the Port Hawkesbury R-C-M-P or Crimestoppers.

March  4, 2010             Review to Proceed on four Schools

The Strait Regional School Board is moving ahead with a review process for three schools facing possible closure. Over 50 concerned parents and members of the school communities packed the chamber room as  the School Board voted 9-to-2 in favour of continuing the review process for Canso Academy; and voted 6-to-5 in favour of continuing the process for both H.M. MacDonald Elementary in Maryvale and the Rev. H.J. MacDonald Elementary in Heatherton. Superintendent Jack Beaton says the school board has to follow provincial legislation and make the best use of its resources.

Jack Beaton

Beaton says Impact Assessments on the potential closure of the three schools will be completed before the end of May. A final decision on the closure of a fourth school nearing the end of the review process, St. Mary’s Education Centre, will be made on Monday at a special meeting of the School Board in Sherbrooke.

March 4, 2010            CUPE contract signing on Monday

The Strait Regional School Board will officially endorse a new 5 year agreement with its unionized support staff on Monday. The deal with the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 955 covers 420 staff members within the School Board. Superintendent Jack Beaton says the agreement means continuing stability in the services those employees provide for students.

Jack Beaton-CUPE

The official signing will take place at 2pm on Monday at the Mulgrave Professional Development Centre

March 4, 2010                            New Glasgow Make Arrest in Theft

New Glasgow Police say an arrest has been made in connection with a theft at Sobeys in the east side of town early Wednesday night.  Police say store security pursued a suspect from the building.  Police say during an altercation, the suspect displayed a weapon then fled.  Police officers and members of its Major Crime Section tracked down the suspect at his home on Egerton Street in New Glasgow a few moments later.  The New Glasgow Police department’s  major crime section and emergency response unit and the Pictou County Street Crime Unit searched the home early this morning and arrested a 39-year-old man from New Glasgow.  The man will appear in New Glasgow Provincial Court Thursday morning and will be charged with Robbery, Breach of Probation and Breach of an undertaking.

March 4, 2010                  Johnson traded to Oilers

Port Hawkesbury native Aaron Johnson is now a part of hockey history, involved in the first ever trade between Alberta’s two N-H-L teams.  Johnson, a defenceman who logged 22 games with the the Calgary Flames this season, was shipped to the Edmonton Oilers for fellow defencemen Steve Staios.  The Oilers also get a third round pick from Calgary in the deal.  Johnson was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2001, and has also played for the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Islanders.

March 3, 2010              Panthers Training Camp not Coming

The N-H-L’s Florida Panthers won’t be coming back to the town of Port Hawkesbury for their training camp this fall.  Mayor Billy Joe MacLean says the town has been working for the past four to six months to raise the money needed to attract the Panthers back to the area in September.  MacLean says it came up well short of the 100 to 150-thousand dollars to make the project work.  MacLean says although it won’t happen this year, the town remains open to hosting a training camp again.

Billy Joe MacLean

MacLean says Enterprise Cape Breton had agreed to put up its share to bring the Panthers to Port Hawkesbury, but it was difficult to secure funding from the province.

March 3, 2010            X-Men Knock off  Varsity Reds

The St. F-X X-Men are getting a much needed rest after knocking off the reigning  C-I-S Champions, the U-N-B Varsity Reds.  The X-Men completed a series sweep of the Varsity Reds Tuesday night, with a 3-2 victory, winning the best of five A-U-S semi-final 3-0.  Head Coach Brad Peddle says his players bought into the game plan the coaching staff developed to beat the Varsity Reds.

Brad Peddle

The X-Men will face rival Saint Mary’s Huskies, who advanced to the A-U-S final Wednesday night, after beating the Acadia Axemen  9-2, to win their best of 5 series 3-1.   The A-U-S final will start next week, but no dates have been set yet.

March 3, 2010                       Tentative Deal Ratified by St. F-X Faculty

There’s word St. F-X University’s faculty have ratified a tentative agreement with the post-secondary institution. While there’s been no official comment from either the union or the administration, news of the ratification is coming from other sources.   The Canadian Association of University Business Officers, an organization representing  administrators and  financial officers at universities across the country, indicates on its web site the deal has been ratified by St. F-X University and its union.  The web site says it’s a three year agreement for full-time faculty, contract faculty, laboratory instructors, and clinical associates.  The deal, retroactive to last July expires at the end of June, 2012. The university and the faculty union, the St. Francis Xavier Association of University Teachers reached a tentative agreement last month.  Union President David Lynes could not be reached for comment.  University officials have referred any questions about employee ratification to the union.

March 3, 2010          R-C-M-P investigate Paint Ball Vandalism and ATV Theft

Richmond County R-C-M-P are looking for someone who is shooting paint balls at local buildings.  Police say earlier this week, someone fired paint ball pellets on the front of Sharon’s store in Louisdale, leaving the front of the building covered in blue paint.  Investigators say the incident happened sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning.  Police say several other homes and a car in the area were also hit with paint balls around the same time.  R-C-M-P are also investigating the theft of an all-terrain vehicle in the French Cove area, near St. Peter’s.  It’s a yellow 2002 Honda 30 E-X Racer.  No arrests have been made in either case.   Anyone with information on either incident is asked to contact the Richmond County R-C-M-P or Crimestoppers.

March 2, 2010        Mulgrave looks to control Dog Complaints

There’s still no law and order for dogs in the Town of Mulgrave. There’s been an increase in canine related complaints in Mulgrave but the town no longer employs anyone to police the animals. Mayor Marnie Simmons says they have approached the animal control officer in Port Hawkesbury about the possibility of adding unruly dogs from the other side of the causeway to his duties.

Marnie Simmons-Dogs

The issue first came before council last month where Simmons said that in the past there wasn’t enough for an animal control officer to do in Mulgrave to justify retaining the position.

March 2, 2010              Mulgrave Looking for a New Garbage Truck

There may soon be a new multi-use garbage truck making curb side stops in Mulgrave. The  Town of Mulgrave has been forced to rent a garbage truck from Port Hawkesbury since their own truck broke down three weeks ago. Town Council voted to go ahead with issuing a conditional tender for a new garbage truck at a meeting last night. Mayor Marnie Simmons says the tender will officially be issued once a second inspection confirms that their current truck is beyond repair.

Marnie Simmons-Garbage Truck
Simmons says the tender will require Mulgrave’s new garbage truck to also have the ability to serve as a snow plow and salting vehicle.

March 2, 2010          Eastern Counties Libraries looking for recent books

The Eastern Counties Regional Library is hoping to update its shelves with recent and popular books and D-V-D’s in the coming weeks.  The library’s acting C-E-O, Lesley Carruthers says it’s embarking on a book and D-V-D drive, which starts Monday and runs until April 22nd, Earth Day.  Carruthers says the idea of the drive came out of a recent visit to the Mulgrave Library by one of their patrons Joanne Schmidt of Port Hood in conversation with library assistant Joyce Oliver-Snair.

Leslie Carruthers

For this campaign, the library asks that donated books must be published no later than 2007.  Books can be dropped off at local libraries and library link sites, and branches of the East Coast Credit Union, the Acadian Credit Union in Cheticamp and Galloping Cows Fine Foods in Port Hood.

March 2, 2010   Mulgrave to Remain a Town

The Town of Mulgrave will remain a Town for the foreseeable future. Town council voted Monday night to delay the creation of a Citizens Task Force on the future of the municipality. The Citizens Task Force was one of the key recommendations of a Governance Study conducted last year. The Town began advertising in February for three Mulgrave residents to join two town councillors in the formation of a Task Force to investigate the possibility of merging with the municipality of the district of Guysborough. Mayor Marnie Simmons says only one resident expressed an interest in joining the Task Force. Simmons says many residents were left disillusioned by a Governance Study that didn’t provide enough information.

Marnie Simmons-Governance

Simmons says council will revisit the idea of creating a Citizens Task Force in June.

March 2, 2010            Mulgrave To Talk To Province About Rising Water Rates

The Town of Mulgrave is planning to make their voices heard in Halifax before the Town’s  water rates skyrocket next month. The rates, which are set by the province’s Utility and Review Board, will rise to 800-dollars a year per household in April. The U-A-R-B is hiking the water rates to pay for government mandated upgrades to Mulgrave’s Water Treatment Facility. In some cases, residents will be paying more for water than they pay in municipal taxes. Deputy Mayor Ralph Hadley and Councillor Elaine Durling raised the issue at a Town Council meeting last night. Both councillors suggested it was time to take a more aggressive approach since the province has yet to address the issue. Durling says Mulgrave has to take the fight to provincial politicians until someone listens.

Elaine Durling

Mayor Marnie Simmons says she plans on contacting both premier Darryl Dexter and Guysborough-Sheet Harbour M-L-A Jim Boudreau in the coming days.

March 2, 2010            New Jail Not Coming to Mulgrave

The Mayor of Mulgrave is resigned to the fact that her town is not on the radar as a possible site for the province’s new correctional facility. Mayor Marnie Simmons says she tried to sell Mulgrave as a suitable site for the new jail to Justice Minister Ross Landry

Marnie Simmons-Jail

The province is building a new 100-cell facility to replace two aging jails in Antigonish and Amherst. Justice Minister Ross Landry told a meeting with municipal leaders from the Town and County of Antigonish in mid-February that a decision on the location  would be made within 2-to-3 weeks.

March 2, 2010              Mulgrave Looking at Programs for Local Youth

The Mayor of Mulgrave wants to give young people in her town something to do. One idea being floated is turning the former Visitor Information Centre on Mulgrave’s waterfront into a Youth Centre.  Mayor Marnie Simmons says she’s met with local members of the RCMP who share her enthusiasm for the idea.

Marnie Simmons-Youth

Simmons says another possibility is borrowing or renting rowing skiffs and holding rowing classes on the Strait of Canso during the summer months.

March 1, 2010             Fordham pleads not guilty

A 19-year-old man charged in connection with a New Year’s Eve party in Antigonish where a Southside Harbour man died made a brief court appearance Monday. Christopher David Fordham of Antigonish pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. He faces two counts each of attempted murder and assault causing bodily harm, and one count of aggravated assault. He’s elected to be tried by Supreme Court Judge and Jury. Fordham will be back in court in two weeks, on March 15th, to set a date for a preliminary inquiry. Fordham remains in custody until then. None of the charges against Fordham are in connection with man who died at the party, 25-year-old Jonathan Beaton

March 1, 2010                                  Northern Pulp gets funding

The province has anno unced it’s loaning Pictou County’s Northern Pulp 75-million dollars to help the mill purchase 475-thousand acres of land.  The land purchase, from Neenah Paper, will give additional supply to the mill at Abercrombie Point.  Northern Pulp supports about 17-hundred high paying rural jobs in northern and central Nova Scotia. The province will also invest 16.5 million dollars to purchase 55-thousand acres of the land Northern Pulp is buying, most of which is slated for protection in Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou, Halifax, Hants and Guysborough Counties.  The province says its investment will also allow Northern Pulp to spend five million dollars to reduce odour in the community surrounding the mill.  The announcement was made this morning by Economic and Rural Development Minister Percy Paris and Natural Resources Minister John McDonnell.

March 1, 2010            Charges laid  from Rollover Accident

Antigonish R-C-M-P say charges have been laid following a single vehicle rollover accident Sunday afternoon on Highway Four near Monastery.   Police say the driver and the lone occupant of the car was arrested at the scene, and charged with impaired driving.  The 18-year-old man was held in custody overnight and released.  He’ll appear in court on April 14th.

March 1, 2010        Drugs Seized in Antigonish

There’s been a drug bust in the Town of Antigonish.  Members of the R-C-M-P’s Antigonish/Guysborough Street Crime Enforcement Unit searched a home on MacLellan Street, and seized a quantity of ecstacy and marijuana.  Two men were arrested inside the home.  One man is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance.

February 26, 2010        RDA releases Economic Impact Assessments

The Antigonish Regional Development Authority has released its economic assessment for three events that were held in the area during 2009. The R-D-A has analyzed the economic impact of the 2009 Allie MacDonald Hockey School, the 2009 Nova Scotia Golf Association’s Men’s Senior Open and the Kamatsu 300 race at the Riverside International Speedway last September. The Allie MacDonald Hockey School was found to have brought a net increase of nearly 300-thousand-dollars in economic activity to the local area;  the Men’s Senior Open Golf tournament was found to have brought a net increase in local economic activity of over 40-thousand-dollars; while the Katmatsu 300 race in mid-September was found to have brought a net increase in economic activity of almost half-a-million-dollars to the local area. Shannon MacIntyre, a development officer with the R-D-A, says the purpose of these assessments is to gain a better understanding of the positive economic impact  these events have in Antigonish. MacIntyre says it’s exciting that the community now has proof of what these events are doing for the community as a whole.

February 26, 2010                Delaney’s campaign surpasses initial goal

An Antigonish County woman has exceeded her initial target to raise 25-thousand dollars to battle childhood cancer.   Suzanne Delaney will be part of a cycling team of more than 30 riders that’s crossing the country in September for the Coast to Coast Foundation Against Cancer. Her most recent fund-raising event was a dinner two weeks ago in St. Andrews.  That event raised more than 10-thousand dollars. That brings the total raised so far at just under 34-thousand dollars.  Delaney, a teacher at St. Andrews Consolidated school and a personal trainer at Nubody’s in Antigonish says she had a lot of help in organizing the dinner.

Suzanne Delaney

All the money she raises will go to the I-W-K Children’s Hospital in Halifax.

February 26, 2010                          Theft in Mackdale

Port Hawkesbury R-C-M-P are asking for assistance of the public in solving a theft case.  Police sometime between Tuesday and Thursday, someone stole seven spans of copper wire from a Nova Scotia Power station in Mackdale.  Anyone with information on this theft can contact their local R-C-M-P detachment or crimestoppers.

February 25, 2010                 Antigonish RCMP Busy

The RCMP’s Traffic Services handed out 26 tickets Wednesday in the County of Antigonish after conducting an initiative cracking down seatbelt compliance and cell phone use while driving. From 8am to 3pm along highway 104 on Wednesday the RCMP handed out 12 tickets for failure to wear a seatbelt and 14 tickets for operating a cell phone while driving. Police say a number of warning were also issued for various offenses. The tickets carry a fine of 167-dollars and a loss of 2 points on a drivers license for not wearing a seatbelt. The Antigonish RCMP say they will be conducting this type of  enforcement periodically over the coming summer.

February 25, 2010      Tributes paid to former M-L-A and Inverness Warden Charlie MacArthur

Tributes are  pouring in for former Inverness North Liberal M-L-A and Inverness County Warden Charlie MacArthur.  MacArthur died Wednesday at the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital.  MacArthur was the warden of Inverness before he was elected to the legislature in 1988.  He remained in provincial politics for ten years. Manning MacDonald, the Liberal M-L-A for Cape Breton South who served with MacArthur in the Government of John Savage, says MacArthur was one of the truly great rural politicians of his time.

Manning MacDonald

MacArthur’s funeral will be Saturday Morning at the Stella Maris Church in Inverness

February 25, 2010                                 Keltic Project Shelved

Keltic Petrochemicals’ proposed 4.5 billion dollar development in Goldboro, Guysborough County has been put on hold.   The company has told the district of Guysborough it won’t renew an option on a  parcel of municipally owned industrial land for the project.  Warden Lloyd Hines says company officials informed the municipality last week of their decision.

Lloyd Hines-Keltic

Keltic has had an option on the property for about six years.    The shelving of the Keltic project doesn’t affect the proposed  700-million dollar Maple L-N-G plant, that’s to be located nearby.

February 25, 2010                          Chamber concerned about Jail’s Future

The president of the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce is concerned about the possible loss of the jail in the town. Phil Hughes says should the jail be built elsewhere, that would mean the loss of 22 jobs in the area. The province indicated it plans to build one jail in Northern Nova Scotia to replace two aging facilities in Amherst and Antigonish. Hughes, in his report to the chamber’s annual general meeting says having a new jail in Antigonish was a done deal until after last June’s election. Hughes says what he’s been hearing from the province concerns him.

Phil Hughes-Jail
Hughes says if Antigonish is not the site for the jail, it will be done for a political reason, not a cost-saving decision.

February 25, 2010            Antigonish Chamber President Pleased with First Year

The President of the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce feels a lot has been accomplished during his first year at the helm. Phil Hughes says one of his goals when he took over as president of the chamber was to establish better lines of communication with both the town and county of Antigonish. Hughes says that’s worked out very well.

Phil Hughes

Hughes says another goal of his was to find out how the chamber can best serve the business community. A questionnaire was sent out to members to get their input.  Results of the questionnaire are being processed.

February 25, 2010            Antigonish Chamber executive chosen

The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce has chosen its executive for the coming year. Carolyn Grant who was the chamber’s secretary the past 12 months, becomes vice-president; while Robena Stewart, who was a director, takes over Grant’s old job as secretary. Ron Sangster, who also served this past year as a director on the chamber board, assumes the role as Treasurer, succeeding Neil Scribner. Joining the board as directors are Joe MacDonald, Madonna MacDonald, Rose Boudreau and Chris Smith. Marilyn Dugas has agreed to serve another term as a director on the chamber board. They’ll join President Phil Hughes and directors Rose O’Connor and David Tellum, who are entering the second year of their two year terms. The chamber board was elected at the group’s annual meeting last night.

February 24, 2010                    Wempe’s Music Well Received in Vancouver

It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for East Coast Artists entertaining at the Vancouver Olympics.  Among the Nova Scotia-based artists at the games is Kim Wempe, who was on a plane to Vancouver just hours after performing at a Valentine’s Day gig at St. F-X University.  Wempe is a regular at Atlantic Canada House, one of the more popular pavilions at the games.  Wempe says her music has been well received.

Kim Wempe

There won’t be much rest for Wempe after the Olympics, as her next destination will be the East Coast Music Awards, where she is nominated for two awards.

February 24, 2010                           Preliminary Inquiry Date Set

A preliminary inquiry will be held in August for a  former Antigonish businessman charged with fraud over five thousand dollars.  The date of August 24th for the preliminary inquiry of Michael Thomas Keefe was set in Antigonish Provincial Court this morning.  Keefe earlier elected to be tried by Supreme Court Judge and Jury.  The 48-year-old Keefe was charged by police  last August.  The former Sears manager is accused of defrauding the company.

February 24, 2010                        Chamber of Commerce AGM tonight

The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual General Meeting tonight at St. Ninian Place. Pierre Battah of New Brunswick’s Evolution Consulting Group is the A-G-M’s Guest Speaker. Battah is a specialist in human resource management and is expected to address the challenges of employee recruitment and retention for small business in rural settings. Prior to the reception and dinner scheduled for 6-thirty and 7′o’clock, the Chamber’s official Annual General Meeting will takes place at 5-forty-five. Chamber members will be voting for the election of next years executive and board of directors. Phil Hughes of the Antigonish Golf and Country Club is expected to stay on as Chamber President while Carolyn Grant of Bergengren is nominated for Vice President; Robena Stewart of the Antigonish Career Resource Centre is up for Secretary; and Ron Sangster of Sangster and Associates Financial Service is nominated for Treasurer. Tickets for the reception and dinner are 60-dollars for Chamber members or 70-dollars for non-members.

February 24, 2010                  New Phone System at St. Martha’s

St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish is upgrading its telephone system and switchboard.  The current system, where most callers can dial directly to access staff and services in the hospital is being replaced by automation.  The Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority’s Vice-President of Operations, David MacKenzie, says under the change,  most calls to the hospital will go through either 867-4500 or 863-2830.  Under the automated system, callers will be prompted to enter the extension of the person they want to reach or dial zero to speak to the switchboard for assistance.  The current phone system is 20 years old and is essentially obsolete.  The inability to add new phone lines and the lack of technical support  prompted the hospital to install the computerized  system.

February 24, 2010        Field Group Encouraged with Meetings

The head of a citizens group that’s lobbying for an upgrade of sports fields in the Antigonish Area says he remains optimistic about the project, following meetings with federal and provincial representatives.  Last week, the steering committee of the Antigonish Town and County Recreation Association met with Central Nova M-P Peter MacKay and Provincial Health Minister Maureen MacDonald.  Association Chair Danny Berry says both levels of government are impressed with the community commitment to the project.  Berry says the association is now asking for 500-thousand dollars each from the federal and provincial government, down from their original proposal of 945-thousand apiece for a three phase project.

Danny Berry

With both the federal and provincial governments planning to bring down budgets soon, Berry is hopeful they will get an answer on their requests by mid-April.

February 23, 2010      Major Bantam Hockey Franchise Granted

Major Bantam Hockey is coming to Port Hawkesbury and Antigonish next fall. The Nova Jr X-Men will be one of 12 franchises in the newly created Nova Scotia Major Bantam Hockey League. The winning bid was a collaboration between the ST. F. X X-Men Hockey Program and the towns of Antigonish and Port Hawkesbury. Nova Construction stepped forward to be the major sponsor of the new franchise. The Nova Jr X-Men will play out of the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre and the Keating Centre in Antigonish.

February 22, 2010        Recreation Funding announced

The federal government, through the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, is investing more than 1.8-million-dollars in recreation projects. The funding was announced by Central Nova M-P Peter MacKay on Friday. Through the federal government’s Economic Action Plan, the funding covers one-third of the cost of each project. Projects receiving funding include; over 41-thousand-dollars for upgrades to the baseball field and playground at the L’Ardoise Adult Recreation Centre; over 40-thousand-dollars for improvements to the soccer field, playground, and landscaping at the Felix Marchand Education Centre in Louisdale; 37-thousand-dollars for building and playground upgrades at Camp Rankin in St.Peter’s; nearly 55-thousand-dollars for upgrades to recreational infrastructure at SAREC, Dalbrea Academy, and the Tamarac Education Centre; 75-thousand-dollar for a new ice surface and building upgrades at the Strait Area Curling Club in Port Hawkesbury; 118-thousand-dollars toward Arena improvements at the Dr. Bernie MacLean Cultural and Recreational Centre in Inverness; 14-thousand-dollars for improvements to the playground and baseball field at the South West Margaree Recreation Centre; 20-thousand dollars to the Chapel Island Band Council for upgradesto a tennis court, installation of basketball nets, and upgrading of a walking trail and a running track; and 173-thousand-dollars for a new soccer pitch and upgrades of outdoor sports facilities at the St. Peter’s and Area Lions Club.

February 23, 2010            Arrest made in Wagmatcook Assault

A Baddeck man is due in court Tuesday after an assault in Wagmatcook over the weekend. The Baddeck RCMP say they responded to an assault on Humes Rear Road in Wagmatcook on Sunday. Police say the victim had allegedly been dragged out of the back seat of a car, kicked in the head multiple times and rendered unconscious. The RCMP say the victim sustained serious head injuries and was taken to Victoria County Memorial Hospital before being transferred to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney. After an investigation, the RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on Old Margaree Road in Baddeck on Monday. An Adult male was arrested for Aggravated Assault and Assault Causing Bodily Harm.

February 22, 2010           Home Gutted by Fire in Havre Boucher

Two people have been left homeless after a fire destroyed their house in Havre Boucher Monday morning. The Red Cross says the fire at the  home on Highway 4 in Havre Boucher was first reported around midnight. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Red Cross volunteers have assisted the couple with personal-care items, food, and clothing and  couple are staying with relatives for now.

February 22, 2010               Canso to remain a town, for now

The town of Canso has put the brakes on a possible merger with the district of Guysborough. Council’s Committee of the Whole has now decided to defer an earlier motion recommending the town file an application to amalgamate with the Utility and Review Board.   That recommendation was to have been voted on by town council tonight.   Mayor Frank Fraser says councillors want to talk to Service Nova Scotia Minister Ramona Jennex and its solicitor in Antigonish first before proceeding further.

Frank Fraser-Motion Deferred

There’s no word on when the matter might come before council again.  Discussion about Canso’s future as a town was raised by municipal leaders after it received projections the town will post a 136-thousand dollar deficit in the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

February 22, 2010           Whycocomagh Sailor in Haiti

A Whycocomagh man serving in Haiti says Canada’s mission to the earth quake ravaged country has been tough but rewarding. Petty Officer Glenn Fee is serving on the HMCS Athabaskan off the coast of the hard hit coastal town of Leogane. Fee says the Athabaskan can’t dock in the destroyed port so crew rotate going ashore once every four or five days. Fee says their focus has been on providing clean drinking water, medical care and shelter for orphans.

Glen Fee

Fee says Canadians are providing children from the orphanages with basic medical care they’ve never had before. Fee and his wife from Inverness currently reside in Timberlea, Nova Scotia.

February 22, 2010      Pictou County RCMP Step Up Enforcement

Pictou County R-C-M-P were busy Sunday, issuing tickets to a number of motorists for driving related offences.   Sunday’s stepped-up enforcement saw 14 people charged with failing to wear a seat belt, another three were charged with failing to obey a stop sign, one was cited with driving with an expired inspection sticker and four were ticketed for driving while talking on a cell phone.  The stepped up enforcement was conducted using an unmarked police car, where a uniformed officer in plain sight would radio ahead to R-C-M-P members in marked cruisers

February 19, 2010 Richards and Dunkoh Convicted

A Provincial Court Judge has found a former and a current member of the St. F-X Men’s Basketball Team guilty on a single count each of assault causing bodily harm.  Judge John Embree handed down his verdict this morning in the case of a 23-year-old Tyler Richards of Dartmouth, a former A-U-S all-star;  and 20-year-old William Donkoh of Nepean, Ontario; a current member of the team.  Embree found Richards not guilty on a second charge of threatening to use a knife while committing an assault.  Richards and Donkoh were charged after a man was punched and kicked on James Street in Antigonish last February.   The victim testified he required 15 to 18 stitches to close a cut above his eye.  Richards and Donkoh will be sentenced on April 21st.   A third man charged in the case, former X-Men Basketball player Eamon Morrissy of Halifax pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced in January to six months of house arrest and placed on probation for one year.

February 18, 2010                  Antigonish Man Facing Child Pornography Charges

The RCMP say a 50-year-old Town of Antigonish resident is facing Child Pornography charges. The Antigonish RCMP say a four month investigation into possession and distribution of child Pornography resulted in the execution of a search warrant at a residence in Antigonish on Tuesday.  Police say an extensive library of images and videos were seized from the residence. 50-year-old Antigonish resident Donald Douglas Fraser is facing charges of Possession of Child Pornography and Making Child Pornography Available on the Internet. Fraser will appear in Antigonish Provincial court on June 16th to answer to the charges

February 18, 2010    NewPage posts  loss, but cautiously optimistic

It’s been a tough year financially for the parent company of NewPage Port Hawkesbury.  Ohio-based NewPage Corporation is reporting it ended the 2009 fiscal year with a 308 million dollar loss.  That includes a 133 million dollar charge for debt refinancing in the third quarter.  In 2008, NewPage was 117 million dollars in the red.  The company also reported net sales were down 29 per cent to 3.1 billion dollars.  Company Chairman Mark Suwyn says the market was very challenging in 2009 with overall industry shipment of coated papers, used in catalogues and flyers, off 20 per cent.  Suwyn says with an uncertain economic future, print advertisers were ordering less paper.  Suwyn says however, it appears print advertising is  in the early stages of recovery, with some rebound in orders in the past couple of months.

February 17, 2010              Police believe Lamb is out of Nova Scotia

Antigonish R-C-M-P believe the man wanted in the New Year’s Eve killing of an Antigonish County male is no longer in the province.  Two

Robert Harrris Lamb

weeks ago, police charged 20-year-old Robert Harris Lamb of Dartmouth with second degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of 25-year-old Jonathan Beaton of Southside Harbour.  A Canada-wide warrant has also been issued for Lamb’s arrest.  Antigonish R-C-M-P Staff Sergeant Tony Perry says information it’s gathered suggests Lamb has left Nova Scotia.  There are no leads on where Lamb might be. Anyone with information on Lamb’s whereabouts are asked to contact the Antigonish R-C-M-P or Crimestoppers.  Meantime, another man charged in the case 19-year-old Christopher David Fordham of Antigonish, made a brief court appearance Tuesday,  He was scheduled to enter a plea to the charges and elect his mode of trial, but that was adjourned until March 1st. Fordham is charged with two counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and two counts of  assault causing bodily harm.  None of the charges against Fordham are in connection with Beaton’s death.

February 17, 2010                          No for an alternate Jail location-Warden Delorey

Antigonish County Warden Herb Delorey says there are no plans to present the province with an alternate location in Antigonish for a new correctional facility. In a registered letter addressed to Warden Delorey, local M-L-A Moe Smith suggested Ross Landry,  the province’s Justice Minister,  was open to hearing Antigonish present a more suitable location than the proposed site at Addington Forks. In the letter, Smith says another location in Antigonish Town or County that wouldn’t require road construction and had sewer and water systems readily available would make the community’s bid for the jail more competitive. Warden Herb Delorey says prior to the election last June, the province studied the issue and settled on Addington Forks as the ideal site.

Herb Delorey-Jail

Delorey says lower tax rates in Antigonish County would cost the province half of what the property tax bill would be in some of the other counties vying for the new jail. Delorey says the Justice Minister told a recent meeting with representatives of the Town and County of Antigonish and the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce that a decision on the location for the new jail would be made in the next two-to-three weeks.

February 17, 2010            County Wind Project Re-zoning approved

The McArras Brook and Brown’s Mountain Area of Antigonish County will soon be the site of 14 new wind turbines. After a public hearing held Tuesday night, Antigonish County Council passed a motion to re-zone portions of nine properties in the area as Wind Resource Zones. The zoning makes it possible for Shear Wind Incorporated to move ahead with a plan to construct a 30 turbine wind farm in the area with 14 turbines located in Antigonish County and 16 turbines in Pictou County. Shear Wind’s Chief Operating Officer, Ian Tillard, says the project will create over 70 jobs during the construction phase and between 17-and-25 full and part time jobs once the project is operational.

Ian Tillard

Tillard says work clearing sites for the turbines and constructing access roads is already underway. Tillard say the project should be completed and producing power by the end of year.

February 17, 2010          Library Boards asking Province to Reconsider Cuts

The County of Antigonish and the President of the Library Boards Association of Nova Scotia are asking the province to reconsider funding cuts to the province’s libraries. County Council passed a motion at a meeting last night to send a letter to Education Minister Marilyn More asking the province to continue paying for internet service in the province’s libraries. The County is also asking the province to reconsider a decision not to pay  travel costs for library staff to attend meetings. County Councillor Mary MacLellan, who was appointed President of the Library Boards of Nova Scotia last October, says the measures would cut 78-hundred-dollars in funding for travel and 21-thousand-dollars in internet costs for the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library Board.

Mary MacLellan

The Town of Antigonish passed a similar motion to send a letter in support of library funding  to Service Nova Scotia Minister Romona Jennex on Monday.

February 16, 2010               Rural Leadership Development Program Graduates

St. F-X University’s Extension Department celebrated the graduation of 19 community leaders from a new pilot program over the weekend .  The graduates, from Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough, Inverness and Richmond Counties, were enrolled in the department’s Rural Leadership Development  Program.  The department’s interim director, Phil Davison, says one of the purposes of the program was to identify and develop their leadership skills

Phil Davison

Davison says the extension department received some funding from the province to offer  the pilot  program.  Davison is hopeful to eventually offer the program permanently.

February 16, 2010            Emerging Talent Being Showcased

Eleven emerging young entertainers are getting a chance to showcase their talent in the lead up to the East Coast Music Awards in Sydney.    Under the E-C-M-A’s Soundwaves program, these new artists will open for an established east coast artists at concerts being held across Cape Breton. The first show was held yesterday at Inverness County’s We’koqma’q Mi’kmaw School.  17-year-old Dylan Googoo, a student at the school, opened for Aaron MacDonald.  Googoo says he was happy with his performance.
Dylan Googoo

A final competition will be held March 3rd.  Three winners will be chosen, and will  perform as the opening acts in an E-C-M-A show the following night at the Savoy Theatre.  They will also record one original track for an upcoming compilation CD being produced by Cape Breton University.

February  16, 2010                     New Jail/announcement expected soon

We should soon know the site of the province’s new correctional facility.  Representatives of the town and county of Antigonish and the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce met with Justice Minister Ross Landry and local M-L-A Moe Smith last week.  The municipal and business officials say in a joint release they were told that to expect an announcement on the new correctional facility’s location within several weeks.  The new 100-cell jail will replace two aging correctional centres in Antigonish and Amherst.  It’s expected to cost 31.3 million dollars and create up to 70 jobs.  The joint release from the chamber and the two municipalities points out the previous Tory government had already investigated a number of sites in Antigonish that would be suitable for a jail and identified their preferred location on land the province already owns.  County Warden Herb Delorey says based on the work that’s already been done, the province should proceed with building the jail in Antigonish.

February 16, 2010            Bulk Item Pick-Up Approved

The Town of Antigonish is carrying through with a plan to provide Bulk Item Waste Pick-Ups twice a year. A motion to hold the twice annual Bulky Item Pick-Up passed at a Town Council meeting last night.  Chair of the Town’s Waste Management Committee, Jack MacPherson, says the large item pick ups will take place on the regular 3 days of  waste collection during weeks in mid-April and mid-October.

Jack MacPherson

The only items not permitted for the pick up are hazardous materials and items from construction and demolition projects.

February 16, 2010            Boucher named Volunteer of the Year

The Town of Antigonish has nominated Laurie Boucher for the provincial Volunteer of the Year Award. Councillor Donnie MacInnis presented a motion to nominate Boucher for the award at a town Council Meeting last night. MacInnis says the nomination means Boucher will go to the Annual Provincial Volunteer Awards Ceremony this spring.

Donnie MacInnis

The 36th Annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony takes place on April 12th in Halifax.

February 16, 2010        Break-In at Canteen

Inverness R-C-M-P have solved a case involving a hungry thief.  On Friday, police received a report of a break-in at the Inverness Arena canteen.   No money was stolen, but a significant quantity of snacks and concession items were taken.  Yesterday, officers arrested and charged a young person with break and enter in connection with the case.  R-C-M-P are continuing their investigation.

February 16, 2010                                  Tax increase coming in Antigonish

Residents in the Town of Antigonish can expect a slight tax increase next year. Town council has already  begun it’s budget deliberations for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Mayor Carl Chisholm says he expects a small tax increase similar to last year’s hike  where residential rates rose by 3-cents  per 100-dollars of assessment.

Carl Chisholm-Taxes

Chisholm says even with a projected  increase in rates, Antigonish will still boast one of the lowest municipal tax rates in the province.

February 16, 2010            Town to Assist with Flooding Issue

The Town of Antigonish says it’s ready to do its part to fix a flooding problem in an Antigonish neighborhood. The Town commissioned the Horner Group, an engineering firm, to conduct a study of the flooding problem that’s plagued parts of Whidden Street, Centennial Drive, and Archibald Court. Mayor Carl Chisholm says the Horner group presented their recommendations at joint meeting with the Whidden Street – Antigonish Flood Citizens Committee last Thursday.

Carl Chisholm-Flooding

At a council meeting in December the Citizens Committee reported that their neighborhood has suffered from 60 flood occurrences that have caused over a million-and-half-dollars in damage since 1999.

February 16, 2010        Town asks province to reconsider Library Funding Reduction

The Town of Antigonish is urging the province to reconsider a decision to reduce library funding. Town council passed a motion at a meeting last night to send a letter to Service Nova Scotia Minister, Romona Jennex, asking  her department  to reverse a decision to stop paying the cost of internet services in the province’s libraries. Mayor Carl Chisholm says the town also voiced their concerns to the minister in person last week.

Carl Chisholm-Libraries

Chisholm says the Town had an informative and constructive meeting with Jennex on a range of issues. The minister met separately with representatives of the Town and County of Antigonish, along with members of the Guysborough District Municipality and the District of St. Mary’s at the Antigonish County Municipal Building last Friday.

February 16, 2010            Canal Bridge Construction Coming

The construction of the new Canal Bridge at the east end of Main Street in Antigonish is expected to get underway this spring. The Tender to construct the bridge closes tomorrow after the bidding period was extended by a week. Mayor Carl Chisholm says four bids have been submitted for the project.

Carl Chisholm-Canal Bridge

Chisholm says planning for the construction phase has made retaining access to the hospital a priority. However, Chisholm says residents can expect some traffic congestion in the area once construction is underway.

February 16, 2010            RCMP Sherbrooke Requests Assistance

The Sherbooke Office of the RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance after a break and enter at a residence in the Caledonia area of Guysborough County.  Police say three separate building were broken into and a sofa, chair and a mattress were stolen. The RCMP say the theft took place sometime between January 26th and February 6th. The Sherbrooke RCMP are also asking for the public’s help after someone did considerable damage to a vehicle parked at the Sable Gas Plant in Goldboro on the night of January 15th. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact Crimestoppers or the Guysborough detachment of the RCMP

February 15, 2010            Crime – Dead Dog Investigation

The Guysborough County RCMP are investigating  the disappearance and death of a dog in Ecum Secum. The Sherbrooke office of the RCMP say a Wheaton Terrier/Chow Mix by the name of ‘dusty’ went missing from his home on highway 7 in Ecum Secum . Police say the owner later found the dog’s remains in the woods behind his house on Friday. The RCMP say the dog had been wrapped and buried in the ground. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers or the Sherbrooke office of the RCMP.

February 15, 2010            Impaired Driving charges laid

The Antigonish RCMP apprehended yet another impaired driver over the weekend. A 22-year-old Antigonish County man faces charges of impaired driving after being stopped by police early Sunday morning. The man will appear in Antigonish Provincial Court on February 22nd to answer to the charges. The Antigonish RCMP say this is the ninth person they’ve apprehended for impaired driving since the beginning of 2010.

February 15, 2010        Seaside Communications Nearing Completion on Rural Internet

A Seaside Communications official says it’s project to provide wireless internet to residents of Northeastern Nova Scotia is about 95 per cent complete.  Spokesman Adam Conter says in the past 24 months it’s built more than 165 structures, and have about 20 to go.  Both Seaside and Eastlink, the two companies the province retained to provide rural internet to Nova Scotians were supposed to have completed the job by the end of December.  Conter says for Seaside, it’s run into some challenges, which prevented the company from finishing by the target date.

Adam Conter

Conter says the company’s goal is to be 100 per cent complete sometime this summer.

February 15, 2010       PHAST Swim team excels at Provincial Juniors

Members of the Port Hawkesbury Antigonish Swim Team won double honours at the Junior Provincial Short Course  Championships over

Members of the Port Hawkesbury Antigonish Swim Team, named best small team and best over team at the Nova Scotia Junior Provincial Short Course Championship in Shearwater. Members of the team are: Front Row: Anna Hart, Laura Burns, Camryn Doucet, Tasha Silver. Back Row: Jacqueline McDonald, Alanna Connors, Coach Rob Allen, Rebecca Kennedy, Shannon England

the weekend in Shearwater.  The eight swimmers won top honours as best small team and best overall team at the event.   The squads 12-hundred and 51 points was first among all teams.  All eight swimmers medalled at the championship, including Cameron Doucet, who won gold in the 100 metre backstroke, while Shannon England won gold in the 100 and 200 metre backstroke. The team also won gold in the freestyle and medley relays.  The next meets for the swim team will be February 28th, with a Novice event in Port Hawkesbury, while the seniors travel to the Atlantic East Coast Championship in P-E-I in early March.

February 15, 2010                 Men’s University Hockey Playoffs set

The pairings have been set in the A-U-S playoffs in men’s hockey.  The St. F-X X-Men will meet U-P-E-I in the best of 3 A-U-S quarter finals.  Game one will be played Wednesday at U-P-E-I.  Game Two will be played Friday at the Charles V. Keating Centre in Antigonish on at 7.  If a third game is needed it will be played Sunday afternoon in Charlottetown.  Playoff tickets go on sale this afternoon at one.  The other quarter final sees Saint Mary’s playing Moncton.  The opening game of the best of three will be played Wednesday in Halifax.

February 15, 2010                       Volleyball Playoffs announced

The schedule’s set for the A-U-S Women’s Volleyball championships at Saint Mary’s next weekend.  St. F-X enters the tournament as the top seed and have earned a bye into the semi-finals.  They’ll play the lowest remaining seed from the quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon.  Host Saint Mary’s also has a bye into the semi finals.  Other teams at the A-U-S championship are Acadia, Dalhousie, U-N-B and Cape Breton.

Febraury 15, 2010                Dalbrae wins Cape Breton West Hockey League title

The Dalbrae Dragons have captured the Cape Breton West High school Hockey League Championship.  Paddy MacDonald’s second goal of the game at 2:01 of the first overtime period lifted the Dragons to a 2-1 win over the Inverness Rebels. The three day tournament marked the end of the league season and the five teams now prepare for the N-S-S-A-F regional playdowns.  In division three, the SAERC Saints plays the Cape Breton Highlands Academy Huskies in one best of three series, while Inverness squares off with the Richmond Hurricanes.  The winners of those series advance to the provincials in Bridgewater, while the two losing teams will play off to determine the third team to advance.  Dalbrae earns a bye to the division two provincials, as they are the hosting the tournament this year.

February 12, 2010        Subdivision Approval given in Guysborough

Guysborough District Municipality Council has given the green light for a subdivision near the community of Guysborough.  At its regular meeting this week council agreed to re-zone a parcel of land intended for the subdivision from Commercial property to residential.  The property is large enough accommodate about half a dozen building lots

February 12, 2010            Harbourview Fire Departments gets loan guarantee

Guysborough District Municipality Council has guaranteed a 150-thousand dollar loan by the Harbourview Fire Department.  Warden Lloyd Hines says the move will help the fire department move ahead with building a sub station in Country Harbour.  Hines says council is happy to support local fire departments with projects like this.
Lloyd Hines-Loan Guarantee

Council agreed to the loan guarantee at a meeting this week.

February 12, 2010            Recreation Funding announced

Three organizations in Northeastern Nova Scotia involved in community recreation activities will each receive  a 12-thousand dollar grant under the province’s Lighthouses program.  The program, from the Justice Department, helps community groups offer recreational, educational, cultural and life skills programs for youth.  Justice Minister Ross Landry says it’s important to prevent crime before it happens and the grants will help youth get involved in after school recreational programs.  Local groups receiving support include the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association; the Eastern Communities Youth Association in Canso and the Potlotek Youth Program at the Chapel Island First Nation.  A total of 12 organizations across the province received funding.

February 12, 2010                         MacLean given Honourable Title

The Mayor of Port Hawkesbury, Billy Joe MacLean, is now officially the Honourable Billy Joe MacLean. MacLean received a letter from Robert C. Fowler, Clerk of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. The letter states that Lieutenant Governor Mayann Francis, on the recommendation of Premier Darrell Dexter, has appointed MacLean an honourary member of the Executive Council for Nova Scotia. The appointment grants MacLean the use of “The Honourable” before his name or initials. MacLean is a former progressive conservative M-L-A for Inverness South and served as a provincial cabinet  minister. MacLean was expelled from the legislature in 1986 for violating expense laws that were later deemed unconstitutional. In 1987, MacLean, running as an independent,  won re-election in Inverness South, beating his Liberal opponent by 165 votes.  MacLean was first elected as the Mayor of Port Hawkesbury back in 1993.

February 11, 2010                            New CEO at NewPage

The parent company of NewPage Port Hawkesbury has named a new President and Chief Executive Officer.  Ohio-based NewPage Corporation has announced the appointment of 54-year-old Tom Curley, who has served in a variety of leadership roles in four multinational companies.  Prior to joining NewPage, Curley was president of the energy division of Rolls Royce.  Curley replaces  Rick Willett, who stepped down as President and C-E-O in January.

February 11, 2010            Deputy Mayor – New Glasgow

Town Councillor Ross Hamid has been appointed the Deputy Mayor of New Glasgow. Hamid was elected to sixth term in October of 2008 as the representative for Ward 3 in New Glasgow. This will be the fourth time Hamid has served as the town’s Deputy Mayor. Hamid was also elected to the Board of Directors of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities last November and is recipient of the UNSM’s 15-years of service award.

February 11, 2010                                                 Warden on Canso’s future

The Warden of the Guysborough District Municipality says there’s not much he can offer as a response as the town of Canso ponders its future.  Facing a potential 136-thousand dollar deficit during the next fiscal year, the town council will debate whether to accept a recommendation from its committee of the whole meeting to approach the Utility and Review Board on possible options for future governance.  Guysborough Warden Lloyd Hines says its hasn’t received any information from either Canso or Mulgrave on what their future plans might be.

Lloyd Hines
Canso Town Council will discuss the Committee of the Whole resolution later this month.

February 11, 2010            Pool in Guysborough to go Solar

It looks the swimming pool in the community of Guysborough is going green.  At its regular council meeting last night, Guysborough District Municipal Council has agreed to cover up to 20 per cent of the cost of installing solar panels that will be used to heat the pool up to maximum of 39-thousand 500 dollars.  Warden Lloyd Hines says going solar will be a huge benefit for the pool.

Lloyd Hines-Pool

Other partners expected to be involved are the school board and the province. Hines says the current costs of heating the pool will be recouped in three years after the units are installed

February 10, 2010                       Trial dates to be set in March

A 24-year-old Halifax man facing charges related to a New Year’s Eve party in Antigonish where a 25-year-old man died appeared briefly in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Antigonish Wednesday.  Jullian Frederick Chittick was in court to set dates for his trial, but that’s been delayed.  Court was told disclosure of evidence between Crown and Defence lawyers has just been completed, and more time is needed to determine how many court days will be required for the trial.   The matter has been adjourned until March 9th.  Chittick remains in custody.  Chittick earlier elected to be tried by Supreme Court Justice alone.   Chittick faces eight charges including weapons related offences, uttering threats, assault with a weapon and breach of a recognizance.  None of the charges against Chittick relate to the man who died at the party, Jonathan Beaton of Southside Harbour.

February 10, 2010            Guysborough Break-In

The  RCMP in Guysborough County are investigating a break and enter at a seasonal home in Fox Island. Police say the break-in took place sometime in the past few months. The RCMP estimate over 25-hundred-dollars worth of property was stolen from the home. Taken from the residence were approximately 20 bottles of wine, 5 forty-ounce bottles of liquor, 20 small bottles of liquor, knives, an expensive pair of binoculars and a small amount of money. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Crime Stoppers or the Guysborough detachment of the RCMP.

February 9, 2010                                        Charges/Drug Bust

Two men are facing charges after police executed a search warrant in Westville on Monday night. The Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Unit says a large quantity of illegal tobacco and pre-packaged marijuana was found at a residence on Foley Street in Westville. A 46-year-old  man and an 18-year-old man, both of Westville,  were arrested at the scene. Police say the two men face a total of 11 charges including;  possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of marijuana, and illegal tobacco charges relating to untaxed cigarettes. Both men will appear in New Glasgow Provincial Court in April to answer to the charges.

February, 9, 2010                Auditor General/Local and former MLA’s cited

Auditor General Jacques LaPointe’s detailed list of inappropriate and excessive expenditures by M-L-A’s has been released. The list, revealed by the Speaker’s office yesterday, includes some current and former M-L-A’s from Northeastern Nova Scotia.  Among the inappropriate expenditures are  Richmond M-L-A Michel Samson and former Guysborough-Sheet Harbour M-L-A Ron Chisholm for telephone or internet services claims above monthly allowances.  Samson claimed 15-hundred and forty dollars from June, 2006 to July, 2009; while Chisholm sought reimbursements of 12-hundred and 74 dollars from February, 2007 to July, 2008.  Chisholm also bought a G-P-S unit for 750 dollars.  Others cited in the report included former Inverness M-L-A Rodney MacDonald, who claimed 32-hundred and 50 dollars for a projector screen and dress kit, and Pictou West M-L-A and Speaker Charlie Parker, who purchased  a model boat office display for 790 dollars.  Most M-L-A’s came forward prior to the release of the list yesterday, admitting the claims they had made.

February 8, 2010                  Drug Charges/arrests

The Antigonish RCMP say a 19-year-old male was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking Sunday.   Police say the suspect was arrested in his vehicle and a large quantity of marijuana and Canadian currency were seized. The suspect is due in Antigonish Provincial Court on April 21st to answer to the charges.

February 8, 2010            Wheelchair Ramp turned down

The Cape Breton Island Housing Authority has turned down the suggestion of building a wheelchair ramp at Green Acres, a seniors housing complex in the community of Inverness.  In a letter to the Inverness County Municipality, director Joan McKeough says residents of the four apartments on the main floor must climb three stairs to reach the main entrance.  McKeough says to build a ramp over the stairs would obstruct the doorways of three apartments.  She adds the ramp would not meet building code standards.  Council had approached the housing authority after a couple living at Green Acres asked for a ramp to make it easier for them to get into and out of the building.  The housing authority has offered the couple another apartment.

February 5, 2010          Tree Nursery Response  a concern: MacDonald

An Inverness County Councillor isn’t happy with a response the municipality received about Natural Resources Minister John McDonnell about funding for the Strathlorne Tree Nursery.  Last April, the previous Conservative government pledged 1.14 million dollars over two years from its Community Development Trust Fund to explore long-term opportunities, invest in necessary upgrades and develop a program to employ seasonal workers.   McDonnell replied in a letter to to the municipality130-thousand dollars was spent last year to maintain seasonal staff levels.  McDonnell says the remainder of the funding is being re-assessed.   Councillor Ned MacDonald says that’s a concern.
Ned MacDonald

Council hopes to arrange a meeting with the minister soon.

With information on a Learn to Swim Program, Babysitting Workshop, Kids Clubs, Garbage/Recycling Collection, and Crime Prevention. If you did not receive a newsletter in your mailbox you can pick up a copy at a local convenience store or call 863-1141.

Melanie Fiona

Melanie Fiona is the newest edition to the 8 pack. The Bridge  is her first studio album released June 26, 2009. It produced two hit singles, first “Give it to me Right” making it to the top 20 and “It Kills Me” which hit #1 on the Billboard R&B Charts.

Critics call The Bridge “an intelligent homage to ‘60s Motown” and say “where it does go, it goes masterfully”, concerning its sound. Mark Edward Nero of About.com wrote favorably of the album’s production and commended Fiona for her vocal ability. “It Kills Me” was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. She is currently on tour with Alicia Keys.

8 Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind

7 Massari – Under The Radar NEW

6 Justin Beiber fea Ludracris – Baby

5 Lights – Ice +3 spots

4 Melanie Fiona – It Kills Me NEW

3 Miley Cyrus – Time of our Lives -2 spots

2 Owl City – Vanilla Twilight

1 Kesha fea 3 oh 3 – Blah Blah Blah +3 spots

Hot Songs

Shinedown – If You Only Knew

Cascada – Fever

Timbaland with Katy Perry – If We Ever Meet Again

Default – A Little Too Late

Suzie McNeil – Help Me Out

Faber Drive – Give Him Up

Aries

March 21 – April 19

The Aries Moon is restless, excitable and seeks action. It bores in stagnation and wants the rush of feeling like the first sign of the zodiac that it is. This Moon will not sit well with conservative goals that don’t honor its thirst for adventure. The trick with this Moon sign is to keep it entertained by coming up with new and exciting ways to achieve mundane goals.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

A person with a Taurus Moon needs consistency and security if they are expected to stand behind the ambitions of their Sun sign. Practical aims that build on established successes is what will keep the Bull pulling the money cart this year; fad diets or experimental marketing techniques will wither under the influence of this gentle plodder. A reward of having such a stubborn Moon sign is using it to your advantage by setting a goal that appeals to familiarity and routine.  As an earth sign, however, they must make sure to write down exactly what will come from their efforts. Material rewards always inspire a Taurus Moon!

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Distractible and mentally dexterous Gemini Moons need goals that pique their curiosity and offer quick gratification. While The Twins love to multi-task, it may be better to instead focus on accomplishing one goal per month rather than starting out with a bunch. Conceptual or philosophical goals that deal in ideas and not specifics will not engage these giddy-eyed intellectuals for very long — they need to make it a point to write out their goals and have specific outcomes in mind.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Cancer Moons are tender, sentimental types who will thrive if they really stick to setting realistic goals. Because it’s so important for them to stay emotionally rooted, they should make resolutions that are heart-centered and don’t overwhelm them. Since cultivating a home environment is important, resolutions that have to do with home improvements — from installing a fireplace to buying new drapes — will reflect their inner needs and inspire their motivation.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Leo Moons may want to consider the part of their nature that seeks validation and endeavors to share their gifts with others. Setting goals that garner attention in a positive way, such as resolving to showcase one’s work for the enjoyment of others, will add an emotional incentive. When Leo Moon sets goals, they want to feel impressive and important at the end of the journey. While they want to keep goals reasonable enough to stick to, this Moon needs to constantly remind themselves of the incremental glory and prestige they’ll experience along the way.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Virgo Moons are fastidious about self-improvement, need to work on self-acceptance, and commit to a few of their broader visions. These practical types love getting entrenched in the details and may benefit from painting bolder strokes — then supporting them with a specific plan of action. It would also be healing for anyone with this Moon to do charity work. Since they are acutely aware of their progress, it would feed their caring souls to take the attention off themselves and do what they do best: offer service from the kindness and humility of their hearts.

Libra

September 22 – October 23

For Libra Moons, cultivating balanced and harmonious relationships powerfully influences their feelings of well-being. Though naturals at making connections with others, deepening existing bonds and considering their personal return on their investments with certain people will clear the path for an emotionally rewarding year. Libra (as well as Seventh House Moons) need rapport with — and feedback from — peers. They should sign up a buddy, and make plans to check in on each other’s goals on a weekly basis. Combining their love of social contact with the down-and-dirty work of achieving certain ends will be an effective coupling.

Scorpi0

October 23 – November 21

Scorpio Moons tend to confront their greatest fears. Not interested in glossing over the truth, putting goals in bare and utterly honest language will incite these lunar types into action! Cementing a routine that allows for consistent emotional expression and physical energy will enable them to reach their peak in 2010. Scorpio Moons like to express their hidden reserves of strength, and rigorous athletic goals allow them to zero in on broader concerns.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

For enthusiastic Sagittarius Moons, no goal is unrealistic. These folks are more likely to follow through with resolutions by anchoring a philosophy of life — for example, losing weight for the sake of it will not enlist the support of a Sagittarius Moon. Adding a deeper layer of meaning and using their faith as a guiding star, these individuals will be undaunted by even the steepest climb.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Capricorn Moons feel best in positions that draw upon their impressive leadership abilities and personal strengths. While they adore being needed, these lunar types need to consider their emotional need for solitude and focused determination when considering which mountains to climb in 2010. They’re probably more aware of the value of self-reliance than other Moons — especially considering their emotional life. Setting goals that produce tangible results they can see, feel and touch is what these individuals should consider before making their resolutions.

Aquarius

January 20 – Februaury 18

Aquarius Moons will rebel if they feel like everyone else. Those under this Moon would do well to link their self-serving goals with their broader place in the world. Aquarian Moons are clear thinkers and staunchly principled, and will not do well with superficial or petty aims. These folks are revolutionary thinkers and masters of seeing things from an original perspective. One or two visionary goals for the entire year would be better for an Aquarian Moon than trying to implement a daily and repetitive ritual.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Pisces Moons have incredible imaginations to dream, but they also need incredible support systems to follow through. These support systems don’t necessarily have to be people, though it would be a blessing to have a business-savvy Cancer or mountain-climbing Capricorn with whom they can check in once in a while. Pisces Moons’ power of follow-through lies in harnessing their imagination daily, enabling them to feel and see the beautiful outcomes of their goals. In tapping into their imaginative strength, positive actions will follow, and these darlings will get a euphoric taste of real-world results that are sure to nurture out-of-this-world dreams.

READ YOUR HOROSCOPE PREDICTION FOR TODAY

Psychic Astrologer Charlene Hicks

gave her predictions for 2010 on Breakfast with Barry January 14th.

Are you ready to transform your life? Have you achieved your true potential on all levels?

Have her read the stars for you and find out what to look forward to. Make an appointment today!

From the White House to consulting for executives of Fortune 500 Companies, Rev. Charlene Hicks will help you achieve the best year ever! Her ability to connect with “The Spirit World” will bring in accurate information that will help you transform your life.

SUBWAY

Is it your teacher, the person that plows your snow, how about a volunteer at the rink, working hard to make your town the vibrant community it is.

Nominate the Good Neighbour of the Week in the form provided at 989xfm.ca/contests where you can put the name and town of the person you want to nominate and why you think they are so deserving.

Prize package includes a coupon for a pair of 12 inch subs from SUBWAY James Street, Antigonish.

Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase met in 1983 at the Opryland Hotel. They created a television show called THIS WEEK IN COUNTRY MUSIC. It remained on TNN until its demise as a country network at the end of 1999.

Much of their personal and professional history was documented in their 1995 book “CROOK AND CHASE: OUR LIVES, THE MUSIC, AND THE STARS”.

Since teaming up in 1983, Crook and Chase have been involved in the production of television and radio programs on a continuous basis, making them one of the longest running broadcast duos in the business. In fact this year, Lorianne and Charlie are celebrating their 27th year together as a team!

And they’re still going strong!