MONDAY 4:59 PM: BREAKING NEWS: MCNEIL REVERSES COURSE: SCHOOLS TO OPEN ON TUESDAY MORNING!
[Note: The following material was posted before McNeil's Monday afternoon decision to re-open schools on Tuesday morning.]
Liberal Premier Stephen McNeil's stunning decision to lock out all of Nova Scotia's students has left parents scrambling for options and provoke a storm of outrage. Students at Eastern Shore District High and other schools walked out on Friday to support the teachers. The Nova Scotia House of Assembly has been called back into session on Monday at 10 AM to ram through a bill forcing the teachers to go back to work under the terms of a contract that the union rejected earlier this fall. Schools may be closed for as much as a week.
Keep coming back to this article on the Cooperator website for links to the latest news on the growing number of protests, on the government's effort to legislate a contract and force teachers back to work, and on efforts along the Eastern Shore to care for all of the locked-out students. And check out the Eastern Shore Cooperator's Facebook page for additional news. You can also leave your comments on the Facebook page, and share information about where to find daycare, etc.
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Pain is one of the more prominent symptoms of arthritis, but need not prevent people from being physically active. There are many benefits to regular activity and exercise, including improving muscle strength and endurance, reducing pain, improving joint mobility and improving the health of joints and the strength of bones. Regular activity and exercise also help to improve sleep, balance, self-confidence, and the ability to manage stress. A physiotherapist can design, modify and monitor your exercise routine to address your specific needs.
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Building on a series of successful pilot programs, Justice Minister Diana Whalen has announced the province-wide expansion of the Nova Scotia Restorative Justice Program to adults. Whalen made the announcement on November 21 at a National Restorative Justice Symposium in Halifax
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If you’re not happy with the speed of your Internet service, here’s a chance to get some provincial funds to improve your service. From now through December 31, 2016, municipalities and community groups can apply for funding for small-scale projects to bring higher-speed Internet service to rural areas of Nova Scotia.
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If you know someone you think is an outstanding volunteer in his or her community, here’s your chance to see the province recognize them. From now until February 24, 2017, you can send in your nominations for the following categories:
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HRM’s sudden decision to choke off development permits for 25-acre lots was not the only surprise blow against rural development this year. Regional Council also overrode the recommendation of its staff and decided to require lot-grading permits for all new buildings in the municipality. Staff had recommended these expensive permits—(up to $6,000 and weeks of additional waiting time)—only for areas serviced by municipal sewers.
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[Note: The Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest (OPDF) in Mooseland is a 1,595 acre woodland operated as a division of the Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association. OPDF is a place for all Nova Scotians to learn about forest ecology and the sustainable management of our native Acadian Forest.]
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If you spend any time at all on the Internet, you have seen the ads: a friendly looking woman, photographed against a wealthy-looking background, explains how she wants to show you how to make $100,000 in the next 3 weeks. Then the ad cuts to another person, who waives a check for $54,600 and tells you he made that much money yesterday.
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By Jean McKenna
[Editor’s note: The following article is a shortened version of a longer report that the Community Campus Vision Association has put together. Jean McKenna is one of the founders of CCVA. The complete report is on the Cooperator’s website at CCVA Report December 2016. ]
The Community Campus Vision Association has been advocating for a new school that would combine and replace Eastern Shore District High and Gaetz Brook Junior High. Our advocacy had included the concept of a shared facility concept, a “community campus,” to include a recreation complex and a senior's residential care structure. However, it has become increasingly clear that it is futile to “fight on three hills,” and it has also become clear that these two schools desperately need replacement. Our current focus is therefore entirely on school replacement.
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[Editor’s Note: This report comes from the Community Campus Vision Association. An article in the December 2016 issue of the Cooperator, "Let's Replace ESDH Now," included an excerpt from this CCVA report. All emphases are in the original report.]
As most readers know, the Community Campus Vision Association has been advocating for a new High School to replace Eastern Shore District High, and Gaetz Brook Junior High. Our advocacy had included the concept of a shared facility concept, a “community campus”, to include a recreation complex and a senior's residential care structure. However, it has become increasingly clear that it is futile to “fight on three hills and it has also become clear that these two schools desperately need replacement. Our current focus is therefore entirely on school replacement.
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