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Home My Public Portal About2016-03_MunicipalInsight_pdf_archive-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping informed about March/April 2016 your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this spring... Grant deadlines are coming up! A chili AND a chilly evening Need Summer Employment? Look on Page 2 for This group was "shoeing it" Apply to Rec & Parks info about our funding last month. Find out for a summer of fun programs. where on Page 4. and pay! See Page 7. If you had any type of social media account, children in school, or eyes and ears, you likely remember the 2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge last January. It was a pretty big deal to the South Shore. As it turns out, it was an extra big deal to TJ Nauss. Four years ago, TJ (then 8 years old), borrowed a sledge from the Municipality of Chester Rec- reation & Parks Department so he could spend time with the rest of his family as they skated on his grandfather’s backyard pond. TJ’s cere- bral palsy (although a mild case) causes him to have weak ankles resulting in poor balance. The sledge enabled TJ to participate with the rest of his family rather than just watching them from the sidelines. That day was the beginning of TJ's avid interest in sledge hockey. Since then, he has attentively watched sledge hockey on television, wondering if he would ever have the opportunity to see this sport live or even take part in sledge hockey himself. That dream - along with many other dreams - has come true for this young Windsor Road resident. TJ's sister, Cherity, came home one day after school from Forest Heights Community School, pumped about the 2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge coming to the Lunenburg County Life- style Centre in Bridgewater. The Canadian Team paid a visit to the school to drum up interest. "GOAL"DEN OPPORTUNITYSledge Dreams Become Reality for Windsor Road Youth TJ Nauss (front), standing with his mom Paula and Dave Waters, Co-chair of the World Sledge Hockey Challenge host committee When she heard about it she obviously thought of her brother. That day she told her mother, Paula, that it would be pretty cool if they could take TJ to a game. Although her mom agreed, they didn't know where to get tickets so they called the Recreation Department for some infor- mation. Sure enough, within a few days, TJ and his family were lucky enough to score tickets! Anyone who tried to get game tickets knows that they were hard to come by since most of the games were sold out. So, with tickets in hand, the Nauss' were off to the LCLC. Paula, TJ, Cherity, and grandfather Thomas Nauss, along with two friends attended Wednesday night's game between Canada and the US - and what a game to attend! It went into overtime, ending in a shoot-out with Canada coming out on top! The game was a real nail biter, putting TJ on the edge of his seat. He was overjoyed to have the opportunity to watch the game live. Although he missed the photo op- portunity with the players the night before, he was fortunate to catch one of the game pucks from the intense tie-breaking game, which he will gladly show off. Dave Waters, Co-Chair of the World Sledge Hockey Challenge host committee, knew how disappointed TJ was to have missed the photo opportunity, and hearing of his great inter- est in the sport decided to set up a meeting with him at the Recreation Department. He presented him with a souve- nir program booklet signed by all the players from the Canadian Team, along with his own ‘Honourary Chair’ jer- sey. TJ was absolutely thrilled as you can tell from the photo above showing TJ holding his signed program with his mother and Dave. To add to all this good news, TJ now has the opportunity to sign up for a four-week sledge hockey program aimed at introducing the sport to Lunenburg County. This is another dream come true for TJ, and we will see if he takes the skills he learns from this program to his grandfa- ther’s pond and beyond. All in all, this made for a great experience for TJ, who before all of this, never dreamed of be- ing able to take part in an on-ice activity due to his cerebral palsy. We are happy to be a part of TJ's story, and encourage him to remember that everything is within his reach...all he has to do is grab it! If you or anyone you know can benefit from the use of a sledge, please contact the Chester Municipal Recreation & Parks Department for information on how to borrow one. We also have plenty of other adapted recreation equip- ment to loan as well. • Adapted trikes for ages 2 years and up. The largest can accommodate riders up to 130 pounds. • Sledges can be used to play hockey or just go for a sled on the ice. • Duet cycle is a tandem bicycle that is basi- cally a wheelchair mounted to the front of a bike. It also comes with an electric pack. • Snow coaches are great for trails. Holding up to 220 pounds, the padded seat, raised back support and steel runners make this a great walking assistant. • Hippocampe is an all-terrain wheelchair that can also be used in and out of the water. It even comes with a ski attachment! • Fatwheels replace the traditional training wheels on bikes for kids and adults alike faced with balance challenges. Please call the Recreation Department at 902-275-3490 or visit www.chester.ca and click on Adapted Equipment under the Explore menu tab for information. Planning a Mayfest event or yard sale? Submit it using our online form at www.chester.ca under "I Want To...", email recreation@chester.ca or call 902-275- 3490. The deadline to have your event included in the printed booklet is April 15. The deadline for our online listings is April 28. PRO Kids will hold a fundrais- ing event on Saturday, April 30, so watch for more details. The first ten businesses who donate a prize valued at $50 or more will have a listing in the printed booklet. Booklets will be available at various locations throughout the Municipality during the week of April 25. Look for more details on Mayfest 2016 in the next Explore Life Recreation Guide coming out on Tuesday, April 5. Mayfest 2016 Saturday, April 30 & Sunday, May 1 MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Message from the Warden Spring is here - I think - and we are just get- ting started on preparing this year's Capital and Operating Budgets. So far, although revenue growth from property taxes will barely cover our increases in mandatory expenditures, I'm confident that we can continue to maintain our current tax rate as promised. We are making progress in exploring addition- al revenue sources from wind energy with five municipal units from across Nova Scotia work- ing with us at present. The Lunenburg-Queens Business Excellence Awards were held on March 7. We were fortu- nate enough to have seven finalists in four cat- egories from our Municipality. Congratulations to Cedar Bay Grilling of Bland- ford who were chosen as the overall winner in the exporting category. You can contact the Warden by calling the Municipal Office at (902) 275-3554, calling his home at (902) 275-2536, or emailing awebber@chester.ca In an effort to increase the profiles of busi- nesses serving our community and beyond, we are asking you to nominate those you feel are deserving of recognition for a "Best of Chester Municipality" Award. Construction of the second Dream Cottage is well underway at Skipper Hill. Don't forget to get your ticket and support the IWK and a chance to live the good life in Chester Basin. Thanks again to Jon Dimick. Municipal Council has negotiated a new fire services contract with the Village of Chester Commission to provide service to Districts 3 and 7 and part of District 1 as well as the Village. I would like to personally thank all involved for the effort they put into the negotiations and particularly the fire services for Chester Basin and Blandford for stepping up under difficult cir- cumstances to ensure that the public would be 2 protected no matter what the outcome. Thank you. The Citizen's Planning Advisory Committee has been working diligently on the municipal-wide planning review process. Council believes that their work is too important to rush as the out- come will have a far-reaching impact for years to come. So, we have extended the completion date until April 2017. We want the best docu- ment possible and to insure that broad public input is achieved at the critical stages. There is a lot of good information in this edi- tion of the insight, and on a couple of occasions, we are asking for your input. Remember that it's your community and it functions best when you are involved. Sincerely, Do you know who your Councillor is? Visit www.chester.ca for bio and contact information. Budgets. For many organizations (the Munici- pality included), budgets are one of the most important guiding documents of the whole fis- cal year. What an organization includes in its budget is basically a "work plan". Sometimes a business plan even makes an appearance. The Municipality's budget process is straight forward for the most part. We have an estimate of how much money we have to work with. We have an historical record of how much we spent. Council knows which projects are important to residents and to the Municipality. And, we have a plan. BUT, just because our process is straight for- ward, doesn't mean it's effortless. One budget CAPITALIDEAS takes the coordination of Council, seven munici- pal departments led by the CAO, the Provincial Government, and residents. How? Our budget process begins with residents. Concerns, suggestions, and public consultation give Council and municipal staff an indication of where residents want to see their communities in the long-term. From there, our overall four- year Strategic Plan and goals are developed. Council's Strategic Plan guides the direction of the Municipality and staff. It also gives a pre- liminary snapshot of Capital Budget needs. By prioritizing the Plan and dividing goals into the four years that it covers, a number of capital projects and investments are already identified each year. After that, the CAO coordinates business plans developed by Department Heads. Each individ- ual plan outlines the services provided by each municipal department, how the department will support Strategic Plan goals, and forecasted operational and capital expenditures. Usually in December, the provincial govern- ment provides assessment rolls to municipali- ties. This roll will give us an idea of how much revenue we can expect for the upcoming fiscal year (April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017). The as- sessment amount multiplied by our existing property tax rate equals the potential revenue for the year. Municipalities can adjust their tax rate depending on the expenses-revenue ratio. Then, the Province provides us with estimated mandatory contribution amounts, which mu- nicipalities pay for services such as education, policing, housing, assessment, etc. After all of these steps, the Municipality will develop a budget that incorporates capital and operational spending, a strategic plan for the year, and prioritized service profiles. Thus far, Council has prioritized strategic goals, tabled a draft Capital Budget, and are about to review preliminary business plans. The goal for a released 2016-17 Budget is this April. Life after Gold River Now that a satellite municipal office in Gold River is no longer on the table, Council is faced with several options: sell, demolish, keep, or request proposals for use. None of these options are 100% straightforward. The things to consider are fair market value, appraisal value, the playground equipment on site, and operational costs. At their meeting in February, they decided to issue an "Expression of Interest", meaning the Municipality will accept submissions from commercial and non-profit organizations that outline a proposed use of the property (including building). Of course, what happens to the playground equipment must be taken into consideration as we want it accessible to the community. Staff are drafting specifications for Council's review and more information will become available soon. If we don't receive any proposals or if the proposals we receive aren't suitable, Council will revisit the options. Stay tuned! Chester Municipal Grant Programs. “Fun”ding communities. Every year, the Municipality of Chester improves communities by funding many non-profit community groups and youth through our grant programs. • Council Grants - application deadlines of May 31 and October 31. • Tourism Grants - application deadlines of May 31 and October 31. • NEW Major Projects Grants - application deadline for 2016 is March 31. • Recreation Grants - application deadline for 2016 is October 7. • PRO Kids - applications received all year round. • Youth Sponsorship Grants - applications received all year round. All grant programs have eligibility requirements. Download the guidelines and applications at www.chester.ca/engage/grants-and-sponsorship or telephone 902-275-3490 and let us help you choose the grant program that’s right for you. STRATEGIC PLAN 3We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca BOSS or BUST Since the last report, we received one complaint and one compliment. • A complaint was filed about snow removal on the sidewalk in the Village of Chester. While clearing the sidewalk, snow was deposited at the bottom of their driveway, blocking re-entry. We are sorry, but sometimes this happens. As frustrating as it is, there is unlikely to be a change in procedure. • Public Works and our contractor for snow removal on sidewalks received a compliment and thanks on the condition of sidewalks in the Village of Chester. They were given kudos for a great job so far this year. Thank you!REGISTER A COMPLIMENT OR COMPLAINT BY: Calling 902-275-3554. Leaving your name is optional. Emailing the Municipal Clerk at pmyra@chester.ca Filling in our online form at www.chester.ca under "I Want To..." Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in Chester. Fire Services Contract - The Municipality and Village of Chester Commission have agreed to terms in a five-year fire services contract. Significant changes from the last agreement include the formation of an advisory committee to include representation from all areas served by the Chester Volunteer Fire De- partment and commitments to provide the Municipality financial information concerning fire services and exclude reserve and capital contributions in the fire rate. Public Hearing - We will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, March 24 at 9:30am concerning amend- ments to the Municipal and Chester Village Planning Strategies and Land Use By-Laws. The intention is to adopt the CRINS protocol for telecommunications towers. CRINS is an abbreviation for Canadian Radiocommunications Information and Notification Service. Team Fay - We extend a hearty congratulations to Mary Fay, Coach Andrew Atherton and all of the mem- bers of Team Fay on winning MULTIPLE titles and representing Canada so well. Youth Sponsorship - Congratulations as well to Kate MacKinnon (Chester) who will be attending the Snowboard Cross and Slalom PGS in Quebec, and Adam Harvey (Hubbards) who will be in Leicester, Eng- land for the Soccer Nova Scotia Canada Games Under 17. IN BRIEF...Request for Expression of Interest Consultant Engineering Services Public Works T-2016-001 The Municipality of Chester is looking for pro- posals to pre-qualify up to three (3) engineering consulting firms for the provision of professional engineering services for a three-year period in support of our ongoing operational and capital improvement programs. Sealed submissions must be received by 3:00 pm on Friday, March 18, 2016 marked "T-2016-001 Expression of Interest - Consultant Engineering Services - Public Works". For a copy of the specifications document, please contact either Pamela Myra, Municipal Clerk, by emailing pmyra@chester.ca or Cindy Hannaford, Executive Secretary, at channaford@chester.ca Municipality of the District of Chester 151 King Street, PO Box 369 Chester NS B0J 1J0 Tel 902-275-3554 Fax 902-275-4771 The Municipality reserves the right to reject any or all submissions, not necessarily accept the low- est submission, or to accept any which may be considered to be in the best interest of the Mu- nicipality. The Municipality also reserves the right to waive formality, informality, or technicality in any tender. All tenders are listed under "Tenders" on our website under the "Work" menu Description Successful Bidder Price Over/Under Budget**Type Date Sludge Removal and Disposal Services R. Schnare & Son $0.08/Gal $125/hour stand-by rate Estimated amount budgeted is $48,000.00 Request for Standing Offer 02/2016 Animal Control (5-year contract)Oceanmark K-9 Resort $30,000.00 ON BUDGET Request for Proposals 01/2016 **Although we usually budget for contingencies, the over/under budget amounts will not reflect these until the work is complete and potential unknown costs discovered. For information on the tender process, please email administration@chester.ca Tenders Recently Awarded Although commentated by some sources as be- ing somewhat of a joke, Council's efforts in deciding on a brand that truthfully represents such a diverse area are anything but. While it's true that nothing presented seems to be "just right", what was missed in the article is the importance of this exercise. The Municipality repre- sents you and your community. We want that repre- sentation to be unpretentious, clean and expressive. Finding a single logo that tells the world what the Municipality of the District of Chester is all about is difficult given that it means something different to so many people. For some, it's a place that inspires. For others, it represents an opportunity for a relaxed lifestyle or starting a new business. Always present is the impression of the possibility of things to come. The persistent question is, what exactly should we stand for? Economics? Tourism? Lifestyle? Land- scape? In a perfect world, all of those things should be represented. So what makes one proposed brand acceptable and another one ludicrous? It's all personal opinion. Should we represent ourselves to our own residents or represent ourselves to the rest of the world? What one, single brandmark completely symbolizes an area so rich in tradition and at the same time so progressive? An area that is home to artisan and in- dustry alike? Both coastal and agricultural? Whatever the Municipality means to you, it's per- sonal. Those who live here are invested in their com- munities and that exact sentiment is what makes us special. By asking you, we received a wave of emotion and articulate expression. We received higher than usual participation in both our public workshop held at Forest Heights with our consultants and Council as well as a good number of responses to our online survey, which was also offered in paper copy. Again and again, we heard from residents how the Municipality is the embodiment of Nova Scotia and the South Shore. The top three core values were nat- ural beauty, lifestyle and accessibility. Within those values, many things were specifically mentioned, such as scenery, arts and culture, shopping, food, recreational activities, ocean, and proximity to Hali- fax and attractions like Oak Island and Peggy's Cove. One thing is certain: residents are proud of their communities. We are too. We want to capture that expression in a way that transcends a logo. We want to tell a story that only starts with a logo. A logo is only a book's cover; something that will identify, not define. We want to develop a brandmark. A brandmark is more than what is at the top of our letterhead: it should tell our story through placement, use of graphics and a succinct tagline that embodies every aspect of living where we do. Using the input that we received from residents, the tagline of "Nova Scotia's Treasure" was chosen to represent how pro- ple felt about our communities, the opportunities that are available here, and the valuable resources we share with each other. Whatever is decided, we will not be encapsulated by a single graphic. We define who we are and we will use our brand to portray that through print, electronic channels and promotion. For information on the Municipality's brandmark beyond our usual updates in the newsletter, social media accounts or newspaper, please contact Marianne Gates anytime by calling 902-275-2599. You can also contact your Councillor using the handy list of contacts on the back cover. BRAND ON THE RUN After completion of a higher-than-usual public participation piece, several logos were presented for Council's critique 4 COMMUNITY INTEREST If you accidentally recycle your municipal newsletter, you can access it (and most of our publications) online at www.chester.ca “Thursday, February 11 was the perfect day for snowshoeing”, says Jody Conrad, Community School Coordinator for the Recreation & Parks Department. “We hit it right this year.” We held two well-attended hikes at Graves Island in February. The noon hour hike taught beginner snowshoers about the different types of snowshoes, bindings, etc. Those attending the evening session enjoyed star-gazing and learned some fun astro- nomical facts while on their hike. Both groups enjoyed a relaxed guided hike along the trails at Graves Island learning about animal tracks along the way, followed by a warm bowl of chili, hot chocolate and fresh baked biscuits, muffins Sitting down with Mabel Robinson is like sitting down with an old friend. She is one of the most en- tertaining, friendly and extraordinary people that I have had the pleasure of meeting. She has been interviewed by CBC Radio, the Chronicle Herald, Live at 5, and the Progress Bulletin. And that's not all. The National Film Board is currently editing footage that will result in a film on Mabel's life (as an aside, the film is rumoured to make a local showing, possibly in March). In fact, Mabel is practically a celebrity and refers jokingly to her "Hollywood" status. So what makes this woman so newsworthy? Other than the fact that she is a beautiful soul, outgoing, and laugh-out-loud funny, she has the unique dis- tinction of being the oldest working hairdresser in all of Nova Scotia! In fact, the Cosmetology Associa- tion recognized her eight years ago with that very honour. This year, they believe she is the oldest in all of Canada. At 89 years of age, Mabel will also be recognized by Maritime Beauty as their longest-standing customer of 50 years. It just so happens that Maritime Beauty is marking 50 years of being in business themselves! In an upcoming celebration, Mabel will be on stage with emcee, Jeanne Beker - impressive! Her career started when as a teenager, she trav- eled to Boston to take a one-year beautician course at the Wilfred Academy of Hair and Beauty Culture. Her arrival and subsequent "episode" with customs didn't dampen her enthusiasm though. She patiently waited (and waited) to begin her adulthood abroad. She stayed with family during her schooling, and on her first day of college, found herself alone in a strange city when her drive was late to pick her up. She gathered her courage, strength and indepen- dence and decided from that day forward that she could find her own way home; and she did. Originally a Slauenwhite from Mahone Bay, she dated her husband before her stay in Boston. After a brief time apart, she and her future husband reunit- ed upon her return to Nova Scotia after her gradua- tion in June of 1946, and they settled in Hubbards to begin their lives together. Over the last 70 years, she has seen many clients in her sunny salon located in her home. She has trained at least a dozen women and had three or four work- ing for her at a time. Nowadays, she still sees one to two clients every day, and one of her very own students not only cuts Mabel's hair but comes to get hers done as well! Mabel is definitely taking her father's advice to heart. As the oldest working barber before his retire- ment at age 62, he told her to, "Never retire. Never retire." According to Mabel, if you haven't seen her obituary, she isn't retired. She attributes her youthfulness to her attitude, working, and keeping social. Plus, it's in her genes... her mother lived to be 102 years. I asked Mabel what keeps her interested in hair- dressing and if she has any plans to slow down and enjoy her golden years. She maintains that hairdress- ing is a big part of what she does enjoy. She says it keeps her active and she welcomes the company it brings. She loves to share stories and experiences as well as to hear them. When asked if she has any favourite stories from her career, she only replied, "What I know, you can't print." She told the same thing to the Chronicle Her- ald. Don't think that Mabel is all work and no play though. In her spare time, she knits and you can find a pair of her socks at the local farm market at The Barn in Hubbards once per month. As a testimonial, our own Gord Tate has a pair and finds them "lovely, warm and comfortable" and "perfect for lounging around home with a nice fire". Hmm, better get your knitting needles out, Mabel! Sounds like you have a customer for life. She enjoys a card game or two and usually plays on Friday nights. Apparently she's also pretty lucky at poker, but you didn't hear it from me. Keep having fun Mabel! HEY, TAKE A HIKE! Graves Island Snowshoe Hikes a Huge Success! and good old-fashioned Johnny Cake. “There’s noth- ing like a warm bowl of chili and hot chocolate in a rustic environment heated by a woodstove” says participant Melody Hardy, who was also new to the sport of snowshoeing. Some of those in attendance were totally new to snowshoeing, while others were completely new to Graves Island. “It is great to offer programs that in- troduce people to new activities and new surround- ings” says Jody Conrad. In fact, we had a couple that participated last year and they liked it so much that they went out and purchased their own snowshoes and are now hooked on snowshoeing, and they even joined us again this year. Jody notes that interest in outdoor activities seems to be on the rise. If you missed the opportunity to take part in our snowshoe hikes earlier this month, it is not too late to give the sport a try on your own as the Recreation Department has snowshoes to loan. If you prefer the old-fashion style we have those, as well as, the more new modern aluminum snowshoes. No charge to borrow them for a one week trial basis. If you are interested in borrowing a set of snow- shoes, call the Recreation Department at 902-275- 3490 and book your spot. There is a limited supply, so book early. The Municipality of Chester is celebrating the tremendous efforts of our local volunteers by hosting a Volunteer Awards Ceremony and Reception during Volunteer Week (April 10-16). Volunteer Week is dedicated to recognizing the important contributions that volunteers make to the community. This year’s reception is at the District #1 Community Centre in Blandford on Wednesday, April 13 at 7:00 pm. We would be honoured if you could join us as we recognize these volunteers: • Mary Ellen Clancey, Hubbards • Chester Basin Legion Families • Carol Ann Firlotte, Chester • Our Health Centre Committee • Merlin Gates, New Ross • Wade Nodding, Chester Grant • Whitman Giffin, Chester • Terry Rafuse, Western Shore • Garnet Heisler, Mahone Bay • Fran Underwood, Chester • Rex Lane, Hubbards • Mary Williams, New Ross • Beverley McDonald, Bayswater • Deborah Young, Western Shore After the ceremony, everyone is invited to stay for refreshments and to congratulate the award recipients. This is a great opportunity to mingle and talk with the various volunteers from our Municipality. We ask that you please RSVP by Tuesday, April 5 by calling the Recreation & Parks Department at 902-275-3490. Special congratulations to Merlin Gates who will receive the Provincial Volunteer Award. Merlin has had a huge impact in New Ross, having volunteered since 1986 in various roles. Merlin will represent the Municipality at the Provincial Awards Ceremony on Monday, April 4 in Halifax. Chester Cut n Run 5/10K Walk/Run This year marks the sixth for the Chester Cut N Run, which is a 5K walk and 5K/10K run. It all happens at the Chester Area Middle School on Sunday, June 5 at 9:00 a.m. If you register by Wednesday, May 11, you will get a free t-shirt! Proceeds are for Municipality of Chester PRO Kids! Call 902-275-3490 or visit our website at www.chester.ca Retire?mmm...nah Events listed on our website have more details than those listed here. Visit us online!5 COMMUNITY INTEREST Wed., March 9 Community Soup Luncheon St. Stephen's Church Hall, 12-1pm. Sat., March 12 Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Crib Tournament Little Red School, 11am. Sun., March 13 Corned Beef & Cabbage Supper Forties Community Centre, 4:30- 6:00pm. Call 902-689-2612 or 902- 689-2000. Mon., March 14 7th Annual Meeting Hooked Rug Museum of North America at Aspotogan Heritage Trust building, 10am. Wed., March 16 Community Soup Luncheon St. Stephen's Church Hall, 12-1pm. Sat., March 19 Country Jamboree Little Red School, 7-10pm. 50s-60s Dance New Ross Fire Hall, 9pm-1am. Sun., March 20 Variety Show Forties Community Centre, 1:30- 4:00pm. Call 902-689-2000 or 902- 689-2612. Afternoon of Music Hubbards Area Lions Club with Carmen Schwartz, 1:30-4:30pm. "A History of the Blues" By Morgan Davis, presented by the Athenaeum Society at Ocean Swells Community Centre. 902-225-0082. Mon., March 21 Annual Meeting Forties Community Centre, 7pm. Sat., March 26 Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Karaoke Chester Legion, 9pm. Members and guests 19 years and over welcome. Fri., April 1 Karaoke Chester Legion, 9pm. Members and guests 19 years and over welcome. Sat., April 2 Country Breakfast Chester Basin Fire Hall, 7:30-10:30am. Sat., April 9 Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Spring Concert Chester Brass Band and the Studio Singers at Bonny Lea Farm, 7-9pm. Fri., April 15 Karaoke Chester Legion, 9pm. Members and guests 19 years and over welcome. Sun., April 17 Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm. Sat., April 23 Newfie Breakfast Chester Basin Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Every Thursday March 24-May 26 Plug into Music New Ross Consolidated School, 4-6pm. Learn to write songs, performance tips, record a CD and perform live. Deadline to register is March 17. Call 902-689-2414 or email nrfrc@ns.sympatico.ca To have your event included in this listing as well as on our website and events page in the local newspaper, please contact the Recreation & Parks Department by calling 902-275-3490 or emailing recreation@chester.ca Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Bus Trip Saturday, July 2 (deadline to register is noon on Thursday, June 30) $82 (includes ticket and transportation to Scotiabank Centre) Pick-up at the New Ross Credit Union and the carpool parking lots at Exits 9, 8, 7 and 6 on Highway #103. Call Recreation & Parks at 902-275-3490 to register or visit www.chester.ca. Explore Life. April 5. Check your mailbox. New Ross 200th Anniversary Committee Chair Debbie Reeves was warmly received at the Municipal Council meeting on Thursday, February 25, as she presented an update of what the committee has already accom- plished, and shared plans for events and ac- tivities still to come. Councillors voted unan- imously to support our request for $15,000 to aid the 200th Anniversary celebrations! Thank you, Warden Webber, for your kind words, and Council for showing your sup- port of this project. As winter turns to spring, the community of New Ross continues to prepare to cele- brate its 200th anniversary. On May 22, the New Ross Regional Devel- opment Society will host May Day Festivities at the New Ross Bandstand beginning at 2 p.m. Enjoy music and fellowship, and watch the screening of the 8mm film discovered in the recent opening of the time capsule from the 150th anniversary. Big plans are in the works for the anniver- sary weekend of August 5 – 7, 2016, and all are welcome to attend. Highlights include a night market, a street parade, a 200-gun salute and a weekend filled with fellowship and festivities. The volunteers tasked with planning these events agreed from the start that when the festivities are over, it’s important to leave something positive behind. To that end, sev- eral legacy projects are included in the plans: • A 40’ mural on the local Clover Farm building is already a testament to local industry fostered by our ancestors • The History of New Ross 200 Years – updated by the New Ross Historical Society - was successfully launched in January • Local resident Karl Meister writes monthly about rural life and industry from our ancestors’ perspective. Anni- versary Musings is included in the New Ross Flyer (newross.ca/things-to-do/ flyer/). • A Canada Post cancellation stamp en- sures all outgoing mail is clearly brand- ed with the New Ross 200th logo. • A series of DVDs featuring New Ross seniors and the wisdom they offer on the history of education, farm life, for- estry, religion, and finance in the New Ross area will soon be available. • Information on homes and buildings of an historical nature will be compiled and released this summer. More information on the 200th Anniversa- ry is available at newross.ca or on the New Ross 200th Anniversary Facebook page. - contributed by New Ross 200th Anniversay Committee From New Ross 200th Dear Shabby, I don't really have a question...I just wanted to tell you that I'm your #1 fan. I enjoy your column and think that your advice is just about the best I've ever heard. Is there anything about garbage that you don't know? Thank you for making waste disposal so crystal clear! ~ signed Your Devoted Follower in Chester Basin Dear “Devoted”: Thanks, Mom! *********************************************** Dear Shabby, Is there spring leaf collection this year? ~ signed Ready to Rake in Simms Settlement Dear “Ready”: No, there isn't. The next leaf collection is in No- vember. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean you can't put out leaves. We will collect leaves in your compost cart PLUS an additional three bags of leaves or bundles of sticks each and every regu- lar collection. Bags must be certified compostable (preferably paper) and bundles of sticks have to be 3' or less with sticks no more than 2" in diam- eter. Viva la spring! Dear Shabby Friendly waste disposal advice Have a solid waste question? Ask Dear Shabby at solidwaste@chester.ca PROPERTY SERVICES 6 Didn't receive your 2016 Waste Col- lection Calendar? Call us at 902-275- 2330, email solidwaste@chester.ca, download it at chester.ca or drop in during business hours. Dear Shabby, I'm cleaning out my garage and have about eight boxes of old paint, acetone, pesticide, and indus- trial cleaner. I also have a number of containers of old motor oil. My collection day is coming up on Thursday and I was wondering how much of that can I put curbside? ~ signed Mr. Tidy in Charing Cross Dear “Mr. Tidy”: Thank you for asking beforehand. The answer is none. Zero. Nada. Zilch. Common household waste that contains chemicals is rated as hazard- ous along with pressurized cannisters, fluorescent bulbs and batteries. Many people may not realize, but after waste is put in the collection truck, it is compressed so the maximum amount of waste will fit. If hazardous waste containers are in there, it is a rather large probability that the contents will spill out, con- taminating the truck and possibly the ground. Another very real risk is that to the health of our waste collectors. Luckily, Kaizer Meadow takes residential haz- ardous waste for free, Monday to Saturday. If you're not sure what constitutes hazardous waste, please call the Solid Waste Department at 902-275-2330 or visit www.chester.ca Collection days that fall on holidays are either rescheduled to the Saturday BEFORE or the Saturday AFTER. 2016 Holidays Holiday Alternate day March 25 March 26 July 1 July 2 September 5 September 3 November 11 November 12 December 26 December 24 If a holiday isn't listed, we will collect as usual. Solid Waste Department 902-275-2330 BTDubs... Which, by the way, means "by the way" in cool, urban slang that doesn't seem so cool when it shows up in a municipal newsletter. There has been such an improvement in meeting the black bag limit during regular collection that we just have to say CONGRATULATIONS! We have a col- lection limit of one black bag and five clear bags for garbage every two weeks per household, so excellent work everybody! Special Collection A reminder of the dates and rules of special collection Special Collection is scheduled on your regular collection day between May 9 and 20. To make the most of your special collection, follow these guidelines. Items can be placed at the curb 24 hours be- fore special collection day, and • they cannot exceed 50lbs in weight, 4' in length (except for furniture), and 46 cubic feet in volume; • bags must be no larger than 31"x42"; • put small items in a box or bag; and • bagged garbage still has to be in clear bags; We will collect • large appliances (stoves, hot water tanks, dishwashers, etc.); • furniture and mattresses; • metal (small car parts, lawn mowers with gas removed, etc.); • building materials (siding, insulation, etc.); and • up to 10 lobster traps. We will NOT collect • electronics; • tires; • household hazardous waste; • propane tanks; • items containing Freon® (freezers, refrig- erators, air conditioners, etc.); • large amounts of wood; or • large amounts of asphalt shingles. If you want further explanation of these regu- lations, please refer to the last edition of mu- nicipal insight or visit www.chester.ca and click on "Special Waste Collections" under "Waste Collection/Recycling" located in the Live menu tab. To speak to a person about waste collec- tion, please call the Solid Waste Department at 902-275-2330. All of this information, and a lot more, is avail- able in the 2016 Waste Collection Calendar, which is also online as well as at the Municipal Office. Pick one up during office hours or call for a copy. Municipalities use statistics taken from the Census for many things. For example, population and MUNICIPAL SERVICES 7 KML WIND TURBINEPerformance Report NEED A JOB THIS SUMMER? The Municipality of the District of Chester Recreation & Parks Department is seeking applications from students who would like to be part of our summer staff team. You will organize special events and plan summer recreation programs. If you are creative, outgoing, energetic and enjoy working with youth and the public, submit your resume to: Municipality of the District of Chester Recreation & Parks Department ATTN: Mr. Jody Conrad 151 King Street P O Box 369 Chester NS B0J 1J0 email: jconrad@chester.ca phone: (902) 275-2712 fax: (902) 275-3630 The deadline to apply for post-secondary positions is Friday, March 11, 2016 and the deadline to apply for high school positions is Friday, April 22, 2016. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. We are almost at the end of another fiscal year and another year of being the proud owners of the wind turbine at Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre. Even though we post monthly statistics online with regard to production and revenue from the wind tower, we only post the last seven months worth of data. Below is the last twelve available months showing the predicted performance alongside the actual performance in terms of production and revenue, according to Nova Sco- tia Power. Also shown is something called "relative per- formance". This measures the comparison in percent of our predicted and actual numbers. For information on this report, please contact the Finance Department at 902-275-3554. The 2016 Census is staffing 35,000 jobs across Canada Census jobs Requirements: must be 18 years of age or older and eligible to work in Canada Hours of work: flexible, but must commit to at least 20 hours per week Period of employment: early March to end of July 2016 (start date varies by assignment) Rate of pay: $16.31 to $19.91 per hour plus authorized expenses Apply now / tell a friend www.census.gc.ca/jobs 1-877-325-2016 TTY (a telecommunications device for people who are deaf): 1-866-753-7083 Apply now / tell a friend www.census.gc.ca/jobs 1-877-325-2016 TTY (a telecommunications device for people who are deaf): 1-866-753-7083 Just because winter is unpredictable, and we're not letting the spring-like weather lull us into submission, we want to reinforce some points con- cerning snow removal in the Municipality. Our main messages are coordination and coopera- tion with all who are involved in the process of snow removal: the Municipality, NS Department of Trans- portation & Infrastructure Renewal (NSTIR), RCMP and citizens. The responsibilities are, Provincial roads - Plowed by NSTIR, these roads include highways, routes, and all roads represented by a green road sign. Call NSTIR through 511 or their office at 1-888-432-3233. You can also visit http://novascotia.ca/tran/ and check out cool things like NSTIR's Plow Tracker, high- way cameras, and which roads are plowed when (road priority list). There is also some safety infor- mation including road conditions and winter travel. Municipal roads and sidewalks - Plowed by the Municipality, the roads are, • Captains Way, Aspotogan • Commodore Drive, Aspotogan • Foxwood Drive, Mill Cove • Lake Road, Mill Cove • Landing Drive West, East River • Millennium Drive, Chester • Parkwood Drive, Mill Cove and the sidewalks are located in, • Chester Basin • Chester Village • Hubbards • Mill Cove • New Ross • Western Shore Call Public Works at 902-275-1312. To make plowing for NSTIR easier, Winter Park- ing Ban Regulations are in effect from December 15, 2015 to March 31, 2016. This means that you cannot park on any street maintained by NSTIR be- tween 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. until the parking ban ends. ALSO, you cannot park on the street an hour after a storm starts until two hours after it ends. This is because NSTIR is trying to clear roads for safe pas- sage as quickly and as efficiently as they can. Avoid- ing parked vehicles makes for a messy plow job and leaves drivers annoyed because they are plowed in. To circumvent the problem, the RCMP can have your vehicle towed (at your expense) if you obstruct winter maintenance (like plowing, salting, sanding, etc.), or you can be fined under the Motor Vehicle Act. Incidentally, if you plow driveways, please don't plow snow across a street or sidewalk. Private roads - Plowed by homeowners or home- owners associations, these roads are signified with signs that are reflective white with black letters. IN CASE WINTER HAPPENS AGAIN... Tweet of the Week Our most popular post on Twitter in January... It was the first time that all properties sold with- out the Municipality buying any. QR Code: Download a QR Reader app on your mobile device (eg. iPhone). Hold it over the code while your device scans it, and it will open our website directly. Here, you will find all of the latest up- dates, minutes, tender information, and more. Twitter: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in your Twitter account. Follow us and get regular updates and notifications about municipal issues, including live tweets from Council meetings. Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/ChesterMunicipality and learn about events and stories happening in the area. If you have some- thing to share, message us! We will post your event or photos! Instagram: Follow us at chestermuni to see photos of municipal events and daily life in the Municipality! Tag us in your pics! If you have questions about…call this Department... at this number Animal Control (Dogs)Animal Control Officer 902-277-0017 Bandstand/Gazebo rental (Wedding) Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Boat Launches Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Building Permits/Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 902-275-3080 By-Laws Community Development Dept 902-275-3080 Civic Numbering Community Development Dept 902-275-2599 Composting Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Council Meetings Administration/Tax Department 902-275-3554 Fire Inspections Building/Fire Inspection 902-275-3080 Islands (use of)Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 902-275-2330 Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 902-275-1312 After Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998 Parks/Trails Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 Planning Areas Community Development Dept 902-275-2599 Recycling Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Sewer (central system)Public Works Department 902-275-1312 Taxes Administration/Tax Dept 902-275-3554 Waste Collection Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Wharves Public Works Department 902-275-1312 Zoning Community Development Dept 902-275-2599 fax mail email 902-275-4771 151 King Street administration@chester.ca publicworks@chester.ca P O Box 369 building@chester.ca recreation@chester.ca Chester NS B0J 1J0 planning@chester.ca solidwaste@chester.ca Municipal Districts and Councillors #1 East Chester, East River to Northwest Cove Andre Veinotte 902-277-1409 #2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge Floyd Shatford 902-857-9817 #3 Chester and part of East Chester Brad Armstrong 902-275-3121 #4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant Allen Webber 902-275-2536 #5 Gold River to Martins River Robert Myra 902-627-2470 #6 New Ross and area Tina Connors 902-679-4461 #7 Marriotts Cove, Windsor Road to Sherwood Sharon Church-Cornelius 902-277-1301 For exact district boundaries, call the Municipal Office at 902-275-3554 or click on the “Inform” menu option on our website. Provincial/Federal Contacts Nova Scotia Department of Environment ..........................................................902-543-4685 Labour ...................................................................902-543-0665 Natural Resources .................................................902-634-7555 Public Health .........................................................902-543-0850 Transportation (Bridgewater) ................................902-543-8169 Transportation (Marriott’s Cove)...........................902-275-3221 Property Valuation Services (Assessments) ...........1-800-380-7775 Denise Peterson-Rafuse, MLA ...............................1-877-740-3378 ..................................................................................902-279-3378 Bernadette Jordan, MP .............................................902-527-5655 ...............................................................................1-888-816-4446 Internet Service Survey Please consider taking this brief survey on Internet service in your household. Return it to the Municipality of the District of Chester by March 24, 2016 at 4:30 pm. Name: Civic Address: Number of people in your household under 18 years over 18 years Do you operate a business form this location? Yes No Circle present Internet service: Dial-up High Speed None Circle Internet Provider: Bell Aliant Eastlink Xplornet Other If you are not satisfied with your service, please explain: What is the impact of no or poor Internet service to your household? Return by Calling in your answers to Marianne at 902-275-2599 Dropping your survey off at 186 Central Street Emailing your answers to mgates@chester.ca Taking the survey at www.chester.ca (under Live menu tab)