The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My Public Portal About2018-12_MunicipalInsight-compressedmunicipal insight “Keeping you informed about December 2018/January 2019 your municipal government” In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter... What's up with grants anyway? Like a PRO... Winter is inevitable. We have prepared a list A few questions aswered It's going to happen. We of grants awarded and about PRO Kids, holidays might as well be what's available on pg 3. and giving on pg 4). prepared (pg. 6). KNOW YOUR MUNICIPALITY Municipal Awareness...just for November anymore. Once again, Municipal Awareness Week came and went in the Municipality of Chester. It was low-key, with emphasis on community partnerships and local assets, such as trails and parks. We held an assembly at New Ross Consolidated School along with representatives from the New Ross Fire Department and RCMP. As an aside, thank you to Hudson Broome for demonstrating how fire- fighting gear works and Corbin Russell for doing such an excellent job at explaining how the Fire Depart- ment protects us. Also a very special thanks to Sgt. David Ferguson, Cpl. Glenn Brown, and Police Ser- vice Dog, Farouk, for taking time from their impor- tant work to show students how their roles make an impact in the community. Finally, thanks to Tina Connors, your Councillor for District #6, and munici- pal staff for showing how we all work together. We also attempted to have a Committee of the Whole meeting with Student Council at Forest Heights Community School; however, weather pre- vailed and it was postponed. The new date is De- cember 13 at 9:10am. As previously scheduled, we will livestream the meeting via Facebook Live so if you haven't already liked our page, please do so by searching ChesterMuniciaplity and either watch the meeting as it happens or catch it later. We are hoping to extend Municipal Awareness Week into the new year with a couple of outdoor activities once the weather gets nicer. Who says mu- nicipal awareness only has to happen in November? Once the details get worked out, we will advertise. So, you might be wondering what the purpose of Municipal Awareness Week is. Our goals are to re- mind you of the services municipal government pro- vides, how we work with other organizations, the importance of local government, and that you can have an impact. We get a fair number of calls from residents about things that we can't help them with. We are so close- ly linked to the Provincial and Federal Governments that it's often difficult to differentiate what we are responsible for and what they are responsible for. For example, we are not responsible for snow plow- ing provincially-owned roads, however, we are re- sponsible for clearing sidewalks. We are often invited to engage with other levels of government on certain projects, such as afford- able housing initiatives or emergency measures. We also assist with funding some provincial services through property taxes, like education and RCMP services. It's not any wonder that residents aren't exactly sure of what we do. To make matters more confusing, although municipal "duties" are outlined in the Municipal Government Act, every municipal- ity is different. They all provide waste collection, but not every unit has a landfill, nor are they required to. They all provide planning services, but not every area is zoned. They all provide recreation services, but some do not own facilities or parks. Levels of service are based on what citizens need and want. They are also based on what Council feels will benefit the municipal unit they are elected to represent. An example of this is the Kaizer Meadow wind turbine. The Province legislated that munici- palities were allowed to seek approval to operate alternative energy supplies. Considering our prime location, our predisposition to "try new things", and our commitment to the environment, Council opted to move ahead with a business plan. Now, we are making clean energy and using a third of the reve- nue to fund major community projects, and another third towards creating economic opportunities to build our communities. The ins and outs of municipal government can be complex, but we'll keep on doing what we do, even if everyone isn't sure of what it is! To get an idea of some of the things we work on, please go to our website at www.chester.ca, visit us at the Municipal Office (Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm) at 151 King Street in Chester, email us at communications@ chester.ca, or call 902-275-3554. From left to right: Hudson Broome, junior firefighter with New Ross Fire Dept.; Corbin Russell, New Ross Fire Dept.; Tina Connors, District #6 Council-lor; Sgt. David Ferguson, RCMP - Chester Detachment; Cpl. Glenn Brown; and Farouk, Police Service Dog. ChristmasCrawl.ca CENTRAL WATER UPDATE Moving ahead with public engagement for proposed Village system MUNICIPAL COUNCIL Follow @chestermun on Twitter for live tweets from Council meetings!2 Message from the Warden My apologies. I missed the deadline for the last edition of municipal insight, but I made it this time. First, you may have heard that our CAO Tammy Wilson has moved on. We wish her well and thank her for her four years of dedicated service to our Municipality. The search is on for a new CAO, and I'm optimistic that early in January, we will fill the void. In the meantime, Malcolm Pitman, our Director of Finance has stepped up and has been appointed Acting CAO. Council will meet at Forest Heights Community School on December 13. The meeting will be livestreamed, and we are looking forward to 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 presentations from Student Government and the School's Environment Committee. It's always nice to have the opportunity to interact with our up-and-coming community leaders. Well, after a good deal of effort, we finally have a signed agreement with the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg and the Towns of Lunenburg and Mahone Bay to provide building inspection services. This agreement will allow all of us to improve capacity to provide service and make more effective use of resources. I had the good fortune to tour Sustane's facility at Kaizer Meadow last week. They are a little behind schedule, but what an impressive group of technology, all under one roof! I can't wait to see it up and running. If you live in the Village of Chester, please read the section in this edition on central water. It's a big decision for Village residents with a critical vote on the issue on January 26. Please vote! The Christmas season is just around the corner with tree lightings and festive events taking place all over the Municipality. Wishing you all the best and Merry Christmas! BOSS or BUST 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 "Contact" or https://webfiche. district.chester.ns.ca/Forms/CCRegister Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in Chester. Since the last report in June, we received four complaints. • One of the complaints was about the condition of Chandler Road in the Village, why it has been neglected, and what the Municipality's long-term plan is concerning roads. This is a "J class" road. These are owned by the Province of Nova Scotia, but are the only roads that the Municipality can request to be fixed and have modest success at completion. The reason the Municipality has any influence is because we are obligated to pay 50% of major paving. So, each year, we determine the top five roads and submit our priority list to the Province. The Province has just $2 million to spend on J class roads in Nova Scotia. If their budget allows, they let us know if any of the roads we selected will be fixed in the upcoming construction season. If they pick less than five (including none), we resubmit the following year. We are looking at a by-law for this exact topic. It outlines the process Council uses to select which roads to put on the list as well as options available to pay for it. We are currently reassessing the condition of all J class roads in the Municipality. • Another complaint was that garbage was not picked up when it should have been. That happens sometimes. After looking into it, we found out that we just overlooked it and went back to retrieve it. Sorry for missing your garbage! • A third complaint came in about not having a staff directory on our website, which is true - we do not. Instead, we list contact information for departments and staff people for specific services. We do, however, have an organizational chart posted that shows who works here. • Lastly, another garbage-related complaint. It seems that when this resident's waste was collected, the hauler took the whole garbage can with it. Ooops! The hauler tried to contact the resident with no luck. The Municipality will hold two public infor- mation sessions for residents looking to learn more about the implications of a central water system proposed for the Village of Ches- ter. The system would service all properties within the Village Boundary, a map of which can be seen online at www.voicesandchoices.ca/cen- tral-water or viewed at the sessions. The information sessions are Tuesday, De- cember 11 and Tuesday, January 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Chester Area Middle School gymnasium. Each meeting starts with an hour of open-house style information sharing, followed by an hour of questions and answers. You can preview the information by visiting Voices and Choices. Sessions are open to everyone. If you are un- able to attend, please search ChesterMunicipal- ity on Facebook, like our page and watch or ask questions during the Q&A as we livestream. In- formation covered at the sessions will include: • background and history of current and past situations; • frequently asked questions about the con- struction and operation of central water systems; • financial implications, including estimated costs, funding expectations, and financing options; • who is affected, including boundary and voting in the upcoming poll; and • next steps. The sessions precede a poll of property own- ers within the service area set to take place on January 26 (electronic advanced polling is from January 18 to 24). The poll will help us gauge interest in the project by those most affected. Factors (other than the poll) that have an im- pact on Council's decision to proceed with a central water system or not: • detailed, engineered design • secured source of funding • rate approval/disapproval from the Utility and Review Board Voter information letters should have been delivered by now. If you own property within the Village boundary, but didn't receive a letter, please contact us at 902-275-3631 or email us at election@chester.ca It's important to be informed before casting a vote. We encourage you to visit us online, drop into the Municipal Office, or call us at 902-275- 1312 for a conversation. You can also email us at publicworks@chester.ca Grant application forms are at www.chester.ca or call the Recreation & Parks Department for advice at 902-275-3490.3 MUNICIPAL GRANTS We recently wrapped up another round of grants and felt that it was the perfect time to report the results and share what grant programs are available to individuals and orga- nizations in our Municipality. To the right is a table with an update of who received funding since our last report in the summer. Below is a list and description of the Municipality's grant programs along with dead- lines. The next grant deadline is January 31, 2019 for Major Projects. Major Projects grants: This grant program is available to non-profit groups for project amounts of $10,000 or more. Council recently made some changes to this program to further define eligibility. DEADLINE is January 31. Council grants: For non-profit organizations that benefit residents of the Municipality of Chester. DEADLINE is May 31 and October 31. Tourism grants: Also for non-profit organiza- tions that benefit the residents of the Munici- pality of Chester, but whose activities and initia- tives are tourism-related. DEADLINE is May 31 and October 31. PRO Kids: This program provides financial as- sistance to youth for sport and recreational ac- tivities. Applicants must be 18 years and under and live in the Municipality of Chester. Applica- tions are confidentially received all year round. Recreation Grants: The deadline is usually the first Friday in October. These grants are avail- able as support to non-profit groups within the Municipality of Chester who offer recreational opportunities to the community. Youth Sponsorship Grants: This is for youth aged 21 years and under who have won their way or are selected to attend a recognized event at provincial, national, or international levels. Applications are received all year round. Leadership Training: These funds cover up to 50% of registration fees associated with training or certification in coaching and leadership posi- tions. There is a catch: the skills and knowledge gained must be shared within the Municipality. District grants: District grants are usually for special events happening in the Municipality of Chester. They were introduced during Canada 150 and extended for this fiscal year. If you have a request under this program, please contact your District Councillor (info on back page). Groups can receive one grant per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31), except for District Grants, MUNICIPAL GRANTS REPORT What's new, what's been distributed, and what you can apply for. ORGANIZATION APPROVED GRANT USED TOWARDS... 2-Bays 4-H Club $ 50.00 Tug-of-war event snacks Aspotogan Arts & Crafts 400.00 Art supplies Aspotogan Fitness Club 500.00 Move fitness equipment from HHELPS Aspotogan Recreation Association 2,250.00 Upgrades to basketball nets and back- boards, playground equipment, programs Basin Gardeners Association 500.00 Bulbs/plants for Anvil Park and garden Basin Recreation Park 1,000.00 Lawn tractor for maintenance Blandford Seasiders Seniors Club 1,750.00 Facility rental at Community Centre Canaan & District Hall 2,500.00 UV sensor light on their water system to improve water quality Charing Cross Garden Club 500.00 Rental fees, speakers, travel, copies, etc. Chester Area Middle School 4,523.00 Memory Garden Chester Area Pickleball Club 500.00 Nets, balls and clinic expenses Chester Art Centre Association 1,000.00 Brand enhancement Chester District Soccer Association 2,000.00 Portapottie rental, net repair, balls, etc. Chester District Swim Program 1,000.00 Bringing NHL Legends to Chester Chester Duplicate Bridge Club 500.00 Tables Chester Garden Club 500.00 Upkeep of Cove Garden, Parade Square, Chester Theatre Council 3,800.00 Upgrades to Playhouse sound system East Chester Recreation Hall 1,000.00 New card tables Forties Garden Club 500.00 Garden maintenance, flower show Friends of 250th Legacy Park 1,000.00 Walkway entrance from Croft Road Friends of Chester Competitive Dancers 1,250.00 Competition fees and costumes Hike Nova Scotia 2,500.00 Support for the 2019 NS Hiking Summit Hubbards Sailing Club 1,000.00 Expand Junior programs Mill Cove/Fox Point Beach Committee 1,000.00 Replace Mill Cove Beach ramp New Ross District Museum Society 1,050.00 Nature Walk Trail maintenance Recreation Nova Scotia 2,500.00 Support for 2018 RNS conference Royal Canadian Legion, Chester 500.00 Summer picnic Royal Canadian Legion, Chester Basin 1,000.00 Remembrance Day ceremony and events Royal Canadian Legion, Western Shore 3,000.00 Ballfield netting, benches, fencing Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, 351 Llewellyn Chester 1,000.00 Duke of Edinburgh Award preparation Rural Roots Market 2,355.00 Workshops, advertising, enhancements St. Stephen's Anglican Church 500.00 Musical Friends program Shoreham Village 1,000.00 Music therapy pilot for residents South Shore Seniors Society 1,250.00 Activities, bus trips and outings South Shore Wrestling Club 1,000.00 Leather wrestling training dummies Western Shore & Area Improvement Association 4,000.00 Heat pumps TOTAL $50,678.00 which can be combined with other grants. Learn more about municipal funding and find applica- tions at https://chester.ca/government/grants- and-sponsorships Criteria is outlined on the first page of each form. If you don't find an application, of if you would like to discuss the best grant options, please call 902-275-3490. Holiday closure and waste collection: Please look on the back page for holiday closures and waste collection information in December and January. Staff changes: Although we are happy for our (former) CAO Tammy Wilson, we are also saddened to report that she has taken the same position in the Town of Bridgewater. We will miss her terribly as she was an extraordinary leader. Council is accepting resumes, and the position will remain open until we find a suitable candidate. We are optimistic and look forward to selection very soon. Congratulations are in order: Let's take a moment to congratulate Garth MacLean on receiving his Level I Wastewater Treatment Certification. Garth is our Wastewater Systems Operator. Way to go, Garth! Upgrade to cellular package: The Municipaity is hoping to extend its cellular package to registered Municipality of Chester fire departments. At a significantly lower fee, Departments will be able to purchase wi-fi services that will allow them to access mapping and other software needed on the scene. IN BRIEF...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. • Major Projects Grants - application deadline is January 31. • Recreation Grants - application deadline has passed for 2018. • 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 https://chester.ca/government/grants-and-sponsorships or call 902-275-3490 and let us help you choose the grant program that’s right for you. Follow us on social media for updates on employment opportunites, current events, project news, and much more.4 COMMUNITY INTEREST The Totally Awesome and Super-Fantastic Holiday FOOD DRIVE We are just wrapping up the Totally Awesome and Super-Fantastic Holiday Food Drive, so if you have any non-perishable food items, please drop them into the Municipal Office, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. by December 7. MESSAGE FROM LIGHTHOUSE FOODBANK: We are here to help! Many people have great difficulty in their ability to provide sufficient amounts of nutritious foods to their families or themselves - this is known as food insecurity. Unfortunately food insecurity exists in Cana- da, in Nova Scotia and here in our own Munici- pality. Awareness of this issue is a positive step in helping those who are in need. Families often find themselves having to make difficult deci- sions about where their monies are best spent. Sometimes it comes down to heating the home or feeding the children. That’s where we come in! We strive to bring help, hope and happiness to many that find themselves in these situations. Lighthouse Food Bank appreciates and thanks you for your donations - they help us to help others. It really warms one’s heart and soul to see the joy in the faces of those we are able to assist. Cheers to the spirit of caring in our com- munities! A typical question we get asked is “Who qualifies for PRO Kids?” PRO Kids is a financial assistance program where families that live in the Municipality of Chester can apply for financial assistance if they cannot afford the costs associated with placing their children into recreation and sport activi- ties. We ask the applicant to provide us with a professional reference who is familiar with the family’s situation and who is willing to verify if there is a financial need. The reference cannot be a family member or a close friend. Although families are not required to provide a copy of their Notice of Assessment in order to receive PRO Kids funding, if they are willing to provide the information, it does increase the opportunity to potentially obtain more funding through Jumpstart and KidSport. PRO Kids is intended for those who fall below the Statistics Canada low income cut-offs. Ulti- mately, applicants can choose to provide us with a reference or a copy of their Notice of Assess- ment. What is your budget - do you really need to fundraise all the time? For the last four years, our PRO Kids budget has remained fairly consistent. We receive ap- proximately $50,000 in requests and we have been successful in generating the same in rev- enue. We base our planning on the previous year’s trends, but the number of applications, the total amount of funds requested as well as the amount fundraised each year can change. The challenge is to consistently meet the finan- cial obligations so that we can continue to sup- port local families. The result is a continuous need to raise funds throughout the year. The Municipality covers the PRO Kids Coordi- nator’s salary, pays administration fees to deliv- er the program, and contributes $5000 towards the program. The remaining money (approxi- mately $45,000) is generated through donations and fundraising efforts. Any funds remaining at year-end (March 31st) are placed in a reserve so that is it available for the following year. We always like to remind people that 100% of the money we raise goes 100% back to the kids in our Municipality. Anyone giving a donation to PRO Kids is eligible to receive an official dona- tion receipt. Please keep PRO Kids in mind if you are looking to support youth in our community. In recent years, several families have chosen PRO Kids as their charity for memorial dona- tions, and this seems to be growing. It’s a feel- good gesture that helps when dealing with the loss of a loved one. We thank all the families who have chosen PRO Kids as their charity and to those who make the memorial donations. With Christmas just around the corner, why not consider giving a donation to PRO Kids in lieu of a Christmas present, or purchase a Mu- nicipal License Plate for $20 as 100% of the sales go directly to PRO Kids? Please feel free to contact Cosette Howlett, PRO Kids Coordinator, with any questions at 902-275-3490 or email prokids@chester.ca YOU ASK, PRO KIDS ANSWERS Some valuable info for those unfamiliar with the program The Province of Nova Scotia has invested in a community transportation pilot proj- ect linking the South Shore to Halifax as part of the Nova Scotia Community Transportation If you qualify, you could receive insulation or other energy efficiency upgrades for your home. We help Nova Scotian home- owners living on low incomes save money – and feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. If we discover that upgrades will help reduce your heating and power bills, we will install them at no cost to you. For free. Seriously, there’s no catch. www.HomeWarming.ca or call 1-855-478-4445. To see if you qualify, go to OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO! The Maritime Bus makes travel easier for those without a car Network's commitment to develop community transportation across Nova Scotia over the next five years. This pilot project provides three round trips from Bridgewater to Halifax every day, also making stops in Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, and two stops in the Municipality of Chester: Exit 9 (Chester Basin) car pool lot and Hubbards Mall. To see departure and arrival times, please look online at https://maritimebus.com/locations/ bus-stops-nova-scotia/ or call 1-800-575-1807. Online, select your location and then scroll down to select your destination. With a credit photo courtesy of the Province of Nova Scotia card, you can purchase tickets online or by call- ing the toll-free number. Tickets range from $13 to $57 depending on destination and return. If you don't have a credit card, Maritime Bus offers tickets sales at their Head Office at the Via Rail Station, 1161 Hollis Street in Halifax or at the Esso gas stations in either Bridgewater or Lunenburg. Community Wheels offers to pick up residents at their home and take them to or pick them up from bus stops on a donation basis. Please call the Community Wheels Transportation Coordi- nator at 902-275-5585 to check availability. This is a pilot project. To offer suggestions for improvement or words of encouragement, please submit a contact form online at www. maritimebus.com 5Add your community event to the Municipality's website at www.chester.ca/events Thursday, Dec. 6 Seniors Christmas Party Chester Legion, 12-2pm. Donations for food bank accepted. Friday, Dec. 7 Carols, Cider & Cookies Zoé Vallé Memorial Library, 5-6pm. Do- nations for food bank accepted. Santa Arrives by Fire Truck & Tree Lighting Anvil Park in Chester Basin, 6:30pm. Friday, Dec. 7 to Sunday, Dec. 9 25th Annual New Ross Christmas Festival See above for schedule. Visit www. newross.ca and the New Ross Christmas Festival facebook page. Saturday, Dec. 8 Breakfast Chester Legion, 7:30-10:30am. Country Jamboree & Memory Tree Lighting Little Red School, Canaan, 7-10pm. To purchase a bulb, call 902-275-3496 or 902-275-3667. Hal Bruce at New Ross Legion, 9pm-1am. 19 years and over. 902-689-2650. Usual Suspects at Chester Basin Legion, 9pm-1am. 19 years and over. 902-275-4767. Sunday, Dec. 9 Country Christmas Variety Show District #1 Community Centre, Blandford, 1:30pm. Call 902-228-2961. Lobster Supper/ Turkey Salad Plate and Bottle Drive Union Hall, East River, 4:00-6:30pm. Must pre-order: 275-5720 or 275-5966. Bottle drive, 10am-6:30pm. Proceeds for St. Georges' Anglican Church. Saturday, Dec. 15 Santa's Pancake Breakfast Western Shore Fire Hall, 8-11am. Dance with Amanda Riley, Chester Legion, 9pm. 19 years and over. 902-275-3315. Sunday, Dec. 16 Breakfast with Santa Forties Community Centre, 8-11am. Chinese Auction & Bake Sale East Chester Recreation Hall, 10am-3pm. Proceeds for FHCS 2019 Grad Class. Crib Tournament Chester Legion, 1pm. Call 902-275-3315. Wednesday, Dec. 19 Sing Choirs! 19th annual evening of Christmas music at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, 7:30pm. Proceeds for PRO Kids and Musical Friends. Saturday, Dec. 22 Christmas Karaoke Chester Legion, 9pm. Call 902-275-3315. Monday, Dec. 31 New Year's Eve DJ/ Video Dance Chester Legion, 9pm. 19 years and over. Call 902-275-3315. Tuesday, Jan. 1 New Year's Levee Chester Legion, 11am-1pm. 19 years and over. Call 902-275-3315. Sunday, Jan. 6 Crib Tournament Forties Community Centre, 1pm. Call 902-689-2147. Saturday, Jan. 19 Snowflake Frenzy CDS Winter Fair Chester District School, 10am-1pm. Proceeds for the CDS Home and School. Every Monday Auction East Chester Recreation Hall, 1pm. Darts New Ross Legion upper level, 8pm. Every Tuesday Bingo Chester Legion, 7pm. 902-275-3315. Every Thursday The Llewelyn Chester Sea Cadets Meets at the Chester Legion, 6:30- 9:00pm. Call 902-857-1828. Bingo New Ross Legion, 7-10pm. 902-689-2650 45s Card Games District #1 Community Centre, Blandford, 7:30pm. Auction Captain Kidd Rod & Gun Club, 7:30pm. Fridays Friday Night Live Music MOST Fridays at the New Ross Legion, 8:30pm. Contact 902-689-2650. Bingo East Chester Recreation Hall, 7pm. Forward your community event to recreation@chester.ca to have it included on our website, Facebook page, municipal newsletter, and newspaper events listing. Full event details at www.chester.ca/events COMMUNITY INTEREST Friday, Dec. 7 - Chocolate milk and cookies, NR Credit Union (9:30am-6pm); Community Supper, NR Legion (4:30-6:00pm); Tree Lighting/Visit from Santa/Parade of Lights, Bandstand at the Cross (7pm); Hot chocolate and treats, Vittles (12-7pm); and Family Entertainment, NR United Baptist Church (8pm). Saturday, Dec. 8 - Firefighter's Breakfast, NR Fire Hall (7-10am); Craft and Gift Fair, NR Consolidated School (10am-3pm); "O Christmas Tree" Photo Exhibit, Ross Farm (10am- 3pm); Craft Fair, NR Legion (10am-3pm); Family Fun, NR Family Resource Centre (11am- 2pm); Concert, Christ Anglican Church (7pm); and Dance, NR Legion (9pm-1am). Saturday, Dec. 8 & Sunday Dec. 9 - Community Park Walk, Lions Picnic Park; Christmas in the Country, Ross Farm (9:30am-4:30pm); U-picks at various locations (10am-4pm); Turkey Supper (11:30am-1:30pm & 2:30-4:30pm) and Craft & Bake Sale (10am), Forties Community Centre; Our Home-2-Your Home, 1368 Forties Rd (10am-6pm); and Festival Specials at All is New Again Frenchy's, C Squared Bakery, and Peasant's Pantry. Sunday, Dec. 3 - Ecumenical Church Service, NR United Baptist Church; Wreath Making, Bar M Ranch (10am-3pm); Craft & Gift Market, Ross Farm (10am-3pm); Artisan demonstrations and displays including wood carvings, paintings and blacksmithing from artists Scott Hamlin, Sylvia Dodge, and Barbara O'Neil (1-4pm). FULL SCHEDULE ON FACEBOOK. Search New Ross Christmas Festival. 25th New Ross Christmas Festival December 7 - 9, 2018 www.newross.ca Schedule of Events(all events take place in New Ross)Visit the Festival Welcome Post at Ross Farm Museum Saturday, 9am-4pm and Sunday, 10am-4pm. PROPERTY SERVICES Subscribe to municipal email notifications and alerts at www.chester.ca on the homepage.6 Do you qualify for a property tax exemption? You may if ALL of the following applies to you: • The total income from all assessed own- ers, including spouses and common law spouses, residing at the property, and total income from those persons who hold an interest in the property and contribute to the household income together is less than $21,231.00 in the 2017 calendar year; and • Exemptions are only for residential proper- ty tax on the principal residence. Although all owners do not have to live in the resi- dence, it must be a principal dwelling of one of the owners. Proof of income is required. Please bring your Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada with you. The deadline is March 29, 2019. Please see P-25 Tax Exemption Policy for more details or call the Finance Department at 902- 275-3554. PROPERTY TAXEXEMPTION Property Tax Rebate for Seniors This program is administered by Service Nova Scotia. It is designed to help eligible seniors re- main in their homes by providing them with an annual rebate on their municipal property taxes. If eligible, homeowners could receive a 50% re- bate on their previous year paid property taxes ($800 maximum). This program runs annually from July 1 to December 31. Applications must be postmarked by December 31, 2018. Please call Service Nova Scotia at 1-800-670- 4357 to see if you are eligible. Winter Parking Ban Regulations are in effect from December 15 to March 31. Until the parking ban ends, you cannot park on municipal property or any street in Chester or Western Shore between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. ALSO, you cannot park on the street an hour after a storm starts until two hours after it ends. Your vehicle can be towed (at your expense) if you obstruct winter maintenance (like plowing, salting, sand- ing, etc). Incidentally, if you plow driveways, it’s illegal to plow snow across a street or onto a sidewalk. Call the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal to receive or report information on local roads. Their phone number is toll free: 1-888-432-3233. You can also access all of this information (plus more) on their website: http://novascotia.ca/tran/winter SNOW PARKING If you own and/or drive a vehicle in Nova Scotia, there are a few things you need to know this winter. WINTER WASTE WORRIES No need to worry! You can be prepared with the following information: There are two scenarios for the cancellation of waste collection. 1) If waste collection is pre-cancelled (by 3:00pm the day before a predicted storm), then that day’s waste will be collected on the following Saturday. 2) If waste collection is cancelled during a storm because roads have become too difficult to travel on, then the rest of that day’s waste will be collected on the very next day. To be sure, visit our website at www.chester.ca and look on the main page under "Closures and Cancel- lations". Or, call Kaizer Meadow at 902-275-2330 or listen to CKBW. Put waste curbside by 8:00 am. You can also subscribe to waste collection notifications at https://chester.ca/contact/municipal-notifications Also: • Private roads must be salted/sanded and plowed before collection by the homeowners who live on that road. • Remove uncollected waste from the curb, or the plow will do it for you. • Be sure your collection box/area is shoveled/ plowed. • If there are side roads that cannot be collected due to icy conditions, a list will be posted on the website. way cameras, and which roads are plowed and when (road priority list). There is also some safety infor- mation including road conditions and a winter travel safety pdf. You are responsible for • following the Winter Parking Ban Regulations; • maintaining your own road if it is private; • clearing your own driveway entrance after the plow has passed by; • reporting uncleared or messy sidewalks by calling us any time during the day (office #) or evening (after hours #); • reporting road conditions to NSTIR; and • using caution when winter traveling; whether walking, driving or biking. Snow removal in the Municipality of Chester (and pretty much in all municipalities) is a shared effort between us, the NS Department of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal (NSTIR), RCMP and citizens. The Municipality is responsible for our own roads: • Captains Way, Aspotogan • Commodore Drive, Aspotogan • Foxwood Drive, Mill Cove • Lake Road, Mill Cove • Landing Drive West, East River • Endeavour Avenue, East River • Millennium Drive, Chester • Parkwood Drive, Mill Cove We are responsible for plowing our own municipal properties and infrastructure, including sewer plants US SNOW REMOVAL...us, them or you? 902-275-1312 office1-888-664-6998 after hours and sidewalks. Our sidewalks are in Chester Basin, Chester Village, Hubbards, Mill Cove, New Ross, and Western Shore. We contract snow clearing. NSTIR is responsible for all provincial roads, includ- ing highways, routes, and all roads represented by a green road sign. Examples are Highway #103, Route #14 (Windsor Road), and Chester Grant Road and most Village roads. To make plowing easier for NSTIR, Winter Parking Ban Regulations are in effect from December 15 to March 31 (see above), which the RCMP enforce. You can also visit http://novascotia.ca/tran/ and check out cool things like NSTIR's Plow Tracker, high- THEM 511 information1-888-432-3233 office YOU ...and other things Freezing green carts If your green cart keeps freezing and won't empty, try this: • Use paper bags during the winter • Line the bottom of your cart with boxboard or cardboard • Spray your cart with vegetable oil • Alternate layers of brush and food that has high moisture content • Strain excess liquid before placing material in your cart Program reminders 1. Compostable, plastic-like bags make the lives of those working at the compost processing plant miserable. They get caught in the machin- ery, causing it to stop working. Also, they don't break down in compost like they should. Please stop using them. An alternate is paper bags or boxboard. 2. Ammunition, smoke cannisters, or flares of any kind do not belong in the garbage. Contact the RCMP to ask how to dispose of it safely. 3. Want to know what else doesn't belong in the garbage? Batteries, propane tanks and aerosol cans because they are HAZARDOUS. They can cause fires or injury to staff. 4. If you bring recycable paper to the Landfill drop- off site, use bags, not boxes. When we empty the bin, paper brought in boxes flies around, causing a litter issue. Thanks! 5. Taking your household garbage to a public waste container is illegal. ILLEGAL! Those con- tainers are for conscientous citizens who do not want to litter; not for people who can't get their garbage to the curb on time. That's what the Landfill is for, or just wait until next collection day. Changes • There is no Christmas tree collection in 2019. Instead, we will collect your tree with your reg- ular waste on your collection day. It will count as one bulky item, which is the limit for bulky items. • Speaking of bulky items, special collection has been replaced with regular collection of bulky items. You can place one large item (same rules apply as special collection) out for collection on your regular day along with your other waste. Safety Be careful when you bring waste to the Public Drop- off at Kaizer Meadow. Follow the rules posted and DO NOT back your vehicle too close to the bins because if you trip, you will fall into the bin. Not only is it nasty in there, you risk seriously injuring yourself. Back in within a safe distance, stand on the pavement and then empty your vehicle by hand. We may not be available 24/7, but our website is. Visit us at www.chester.ca ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT This section of the newsletter is dedicated to business events and learning opportunities happening in Nova Scotia to help you connect and grow your business. Please read the listing below for information that could be valuable to you and your business. IT'S A PLEASURE DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU Grow Your Food and Beverage Company Insider tips and success stories to help you create, process and sell innovative products…package and label for success… build and sustain public trust…be more profitable…grow your business. December 6, 8:15am to 5:00pm $62.50 Food and Beverage Atlantic, Truro http://nsfarmandfoodevents.com/ SEB Orientation This program assists aspiring entrepreneurs to be- come self-sufficient through self-employment. Choose one of two sessions: December 6, 9:00am to 4:00pm FREE January 3, 9:00am to 4:00pm Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ Start Smart Explore local resources, be introduced to CEED's programs and services including loans, training and the Self-Employment Benefits Program. Choose one of two sessions: December 6, 5:00 to 6:30pm FREE January 3, 5:00 to 6:30pm Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ Products and Services for a Global Market Give yourself an edge over your competition by adapting your products and services to local regu- latory, cultural, pricing and packaging requirements for sale in international markets. December 7 & 14, 8:30am to 4:30pm $50.00 Nova Scotia Business Inc., Halifax https://www.novascotiabusiness.com/events/ Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project (online) Join us to learn how ISANS, a Settlement Providing Organization, can help Nova Scotian employers set- tle and retain skilled immigrants and international student graduates. December 10, 10:00 to 11:00am FREE Immigrant Services Association of NS, Halifax http://www.isans.ca/event Money Matters Hear from experienced small business financing pro- fessionals, have the opportunity to ask questions, and gain advice and exposure to financing opportu- nities for your business. December 11, 9:00am to 12:00pm FREE Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ Biz Success Tips Hear from seasoned business owners as they share their experiences, tips, tricks and advice for start- ups. Choose one of two sessions: December 13, 9:00am to 12:00pm FREE January 17, 9:00am to 12:00pm Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ Blast Off to Business Develop an understanding of resources available to entrepreneurs and learn how to develop a solid busi- ness plan with subject matter experts, guest speak- ers, and a site visit to Halifax Central Library. December 18-20, 8:30am to 12:30pm $295.00 Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/event Benefits of a Diverse Workplace Culture (online) Learn how to develop a diverse workplace culture to enhance your organization’s success. Choose one of two sessions. December 19, 9:00 to 11:00am FREE January 16, 9:00 to 11:00am Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia http://www.isans.ca/event Leveraging Your Workplace Culture (online) Explore the question, “What can help make us a more immigrant-friendly workplace?” Choose one of two sessions December 20, 9:00 to 11:00am FREE January 17, 9:00 to 11:00am Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia http://www.isans.ca/event Fit to SucCEED A series of six workshops focused on product to mar- ket fit. January 9, 9:00am to 4:00pm $779.00 Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ International Trade Finance Learn everything an importer or exporter needs to know about payment, risk mitigation and financing, the financial flow and the flow of goods and services in global trade. January 11 & 18, 8:30am to 4:30pm $50.00 Nova Scotia Business Inc., Halifax https://www.novascotiabusiness.com/events/ Annual Dinner - Maritimes Energy Association January 15 $215.00 Westin Nova Scotia., Halifax http://www.maritimesenergy.com/ Scotia Horticultural Congress January 28 & 29 Horticulture Nova Scotia Old Orchard Inn, Wolfville http://horticulturens.ca/event/ Annual Convention January 29 & 30 Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association Old Orchard Inn, Wolfville http://www.nsfga.com/ Annual General Meeting January 29 & 30 Forest Nova Scotia Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel http://forestns.ca/annual-general-meeting/ Exploring and Developing Your Business Plan Discuss business plan exploration and development with dedicated incubation space for participants. This is a four-week program January 29, 9:00am to 4:00pm $519.00 Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Bayers Road Centre, Halifax https://www.ceed.ca/events/ 7 If you're in business in the Municipality of Chester, register it with our Business Directory at https://chester.ca/business-directory Log in to upload photos, videos, hours, menu, social media links, location map, and even your TripAdvisor review! Edit your listing at any time. Call Erin Lowe, Economic Development Officer, at 902-275-4138 for details. WHAT HAVE WE HERE? Well, well, well! We have a winner, that's what! Say hello to the first official winner of our Ambassador of Buzz VIP Card! Shannon Ste- vens and her family received 10% off of all our participating Ambassador of Buzz Busi- nesses for the entire month of November. How, you ask? By telling us about one of her and her family's favourite things to do: camping at Graves Island. By sharing why she loves where she lives, and using the hashtag #LOVEwhereyoulive, Shannon was entered into the monthly draw and won! #LOVEwhereyoulive is a campaign that gives every resident a chance to share their reasons as to why they love where they live. It could be as simple as a breathtaking view, or where to get the best cup of coffee, or that neighbour who's become a life long friend. When you really stop to look around there's so much to appreciate and we want to give a platform to all of our residents testimonials and 'inside scoops' and special stories. All you need to do is put a post on Insta- gram, a tweet on Twitter, a post on Facebook - you can even email us at tourism@chester. ca - include your pictures with short captions or longer stories, or share a video - always being sure to tag us @TourismChester AND include the hashtag #LOVEwhereyoulive. That'll make sure that we see your entry! By sharing a story, picture, video, and/or post with us, residents of our Municipality will be eligible for our monthly random draw for the Ambassador of Buzz VIP Card. The draw for our 2nd Ambassador of Buzz will be made on December 1, 2018 (just in time for holiday shopping). Visit https:// tourismchester.ca/ambassador-of-buzz- businesses for more information. Tweet of the Week Our most popular post on Twitter in October... Sustane Technologies is well on their way to producing biomass and fuel and taking centre stage in waste management leadership. 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 updates, 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 something 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! YouTube: Subscribe to modcvideo for our latest videos. We have a channel showcasing some of our outstanding attractions and businesses, and we are hoping to add more! 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 Public Works Department 902-275-1312 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 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 Taxes Finance Department 902-275-3554 Waste Collection Solid Waste Dept/Public Works 902-275-2330/902-275-1312 Wharves Recreation & Parks Department 902-275-3490 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 Marshal Hector 902-277-2982 #2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge Floyd Shatford 902-275-7868 #3 Chester and part of East Chester Danielle Barkhouse 902-277-1624 #4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant Allen Webber 902-275-8373 #5 Gold River to Martins River Abdella Assaff 902-277-2765 #6 New Ross Tina Connors 902-277-1095 #7 Middle River to Haddon Hill, Windsor Road to Sherwood Sharon Church 902-277-1301 For exact district boundaries, call the Municipal Office at 902-275-3554. 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) ................................902-543-4121 Transportation (Marriott’s Cove)...........................902-275-3221 Property Valuation Services (Assessments) ...........1-800-380-7775 Bernadette Jordan, MP .............................................902-527-5655 ...............................................................................1-888-816-4446 Hugh MacKay, MLA ...................................................902-826-0222 ...............................................................................1-833-826-0222 Administration Offices are observing the following holiday schedule: Monday, December 24, 2018 CLOSING at noon Tuesday, December 25, 2018 CLOSED for Christmas Day Wednesday, December 26, 2018 CLOSED for Boxing Day Thursday, December 27, 2018 CLOSED (Council meeting is cancelled) Friday, December 28, 2018 CLOSED Monday, December 31, 2018 CLOSED Tuesday, January 1, 2019 CLOSED for New Year’s Day Wednesday, January 2, 2019 OPEN for regular hours The Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre (Landfill) schedule over the holiday season is: Tuesday, December 25, 2018 CLOSED for Christmas Day Wednesday, December 26, 2018 CLOSED for Boxing Day Tuesday, January 1, 2019 CLOSED for New Year's Day Waste Collection Information: Tuesday, December 25 collection is RESCHEDULED to Saturday, December 22 (Tuesday Week B) Wednesday, December 26 collection is PROCEEDING AS USUAL Tuesday, January 1 collection is RESCHEDULED to Saturday, December 29 (Tuesday Week A) Happy Holidays from Council and Staff