Mini-home park application closing

Mr. Fisher, developer and proponent of a mini-home park for Centreville that time it was determined that responses to the county for has failed to submit additional information required for the development process to proceed. 

The file is now officially inactive and in the process of being closed.

The planners tell me that: "The applicant may apply again for the same proposal, or even a different proposal, but the process would start again at the beginning. This would include all of the applicable fees and the need for a new Public Information Meeting."

As your councillor I would be specifically notified of any such application and, of course, I would promptly let you know.

I trust there will be a few well deserved celebrations in Centreville among all the folks who did such a terrific job in demonstrating their opposition to Mr. Fisher's planned development!

Please don't hesitate to call me 670-2949 or to email if you have any questions.

Nova Scotia Moves --- Keep your fingers crossed

The Province of Nova Scotia fast-tracked a grants and contributions program at the end of 2012.

Nova Scotia Moves is a pilot project with higher than usual contribution levels --- up to $200,000 --- as a 50% contribution from the province.  The municipal or local level must contribute 25-50% of the cost (in-kind or hard cash). 

With only weeks to apply before the first deadline of December 21 --- greater weight was attributed to: "projects or program expansions that are ready for implementation."

At a preliminary meeting a decision was made for County of Kings staff to work quickly with Kentville, New Minas and Wolfville to put together an application to improve active transportation on the old railroad bed that will link Wolfville to Kentville when completed.  The Keiran Pathways Society was designated as a key partner with New Minas as the applicant. 

This society has been the champion of active transportation in the Annapolis Valley.  Its members have generously provided research, policy directives and practical advice.  Another example of how integral volunteers are to the quality of life here in Kings County.

The application was completed and submitted by the deadline. Now we all need to keep our fingers crossed and wait for a successful outcome when the application is considered.  Since part of the work must be completed by March 31, 2013, news is expected soon.  Another application deadline is expected early in 2013.

By-Elections in 2 Kings County Districts

Judge Warner in a 24-page ruling has declared the 2012 elections for the position of municipal councillor for District 8 and 11 of the Municipality of the County of Kings void.

In light of incumbents not having to resign their seats on committees during an election period, Justice Warner posed a rhetorical question:

“What mischief is remedied by having volunteers seek a leave of absence?”

A report on the municipality's next steps with respect to special elections (by-elections) will be coming to the January 8, 2013 meeting of Council.

My hope is that the by-elections will be held sooner, rather than later, to ensure that citizens in these two districts are duly and properly represented.

Click here if to read local coverage of the ruling.

Click here if you would like to read the ruling.

We Won't Forget

On Sunday, November 11, hundreds of people, old, young and in-between, stood at the Kentville cenotaph to solemnly remember.  Laying a wreath on behalf of the residents of Kings County was my first official duty.  Then a solemn procession of family members came forward to lay wreaths for their own loved ones.

Each year brings change to yet another family of a veteran.  Time, like soldiers, marches on.  Fathers, mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers who served die.  This year my daughter-in-law Monique Harvie’s beloved grandfather Frank Harvie died.  She and her sister Nicole laid a wreath in his memory. I was honoured to attend the ceremony in their company along with Edna, Frank’s widow.

All of our WWI veterans are now gone, but we are still blessed to have some WWII veterans with us. Their presence at cenotaph brings the reality of war into a sharper, more personal focus.  They represent, in person, the generation that sacrificed, survived, died and were scarred by the horror of it all.

To them we promise that when they are gone, as all the WWI vets now are: “We won’t forget.” The work of each elected representative is possible because of the democracy you protected on our behalf. When I sit at the council table I will remain ever mindful of the privilege you extended to me, and to all of us, to participate in a living, breathing democracy.

Pond in need of protection and care

Residents on North Aldershot Road have a beautiful natural pond on their road.  It should be a haven for wildlife and birds.  

When I took this shot in late afternoon it was beautiful.  As long as you didn't look too closely.  

This pond has been a dumping ground for a wide variety of unwanted things, up to and including a motor bike.  

Residents say they don't receive the help or attention required when it is used as a "dumping pond." That's why they routinely haul things out of this pond themselves.

Would a monitoring device help detect and/or prevent this form of illegal dumping?  And what can be done to restore the pond to better health?  Two questions a councillor can help answer in a bid to find a solution to this ongoing problem.

Growing spinach 49-weeks of the year using NS solar. Honestly.

This county never ceases to amaze me.  This afternoon I dropped in on Ronald Muis on my way down Lakewood Road in Steam Mill.  It was a biting day.  Lots of wind, lots of bright sun, a real chilly one.

I noticed several large low-slung greenhouses in his backyard.  I soon learned that Ronald Muis grows spinach.  In abundance.  And, that last year there were only 3-weeks in the dead of winter when the greenhouses weren't producing.  Ronald sells nearly all his spinach to retailers at the Halifax farm markets.

When I stepped inside it was warm and cozy---a sharp contrast to the temperature outside.  These greenhouses really solely on passive solar heat that flows through the plastic to the soil and plants.  Amazing.  The spinach in this photo is 3-weeks old.  At the far end of the greenhouse a smaller patch of arugula is also growing.

Greenhouses are something I really love.  The smell of them reminds me of taking my 2 toddlers strolling in the afternoon up the road in Greenwich for a visit with Judd and Charlie Pulsifer at their greenhouses.  They loved to see things planted and growing.  I've feeling thankful tonight for the skill of people like Mr. Muis.  We're blessed to have people in our community  who can make so much great stuff grow... Come rain...Come shine.

The privilege of meeting you on the campaign trail

The blessing of doing the work of being a candidate is meeting special people along the way. What other job allows you to knock on every door on a street and speak with your neighbours about the things that matter most to you and to them?  

As I tidy up my desk, reply to emails, and write this blog, I am reminded to give thanks today for those who made me smile, who made me laugh and who demonstrated their support in oh so many ways.  Invitations for me and my campaign workers to step into your homes and out of the rain speaks to the generosity of spirit that exists here in District 3.  I thank each and everyone of you. 

I am also mindful that over the past few weeks I have seen the heartbreak that some of you cope so bravely with. Separation from loved ones when home care is no longer possible is more than tough.  I hope this night brings a restful sleep to everyone I met today.  I sure need that and I'm sure many of you do too!  Tonight may bring dreams of the beautiful and huge carvings I saw today.  You just never know what you will discover on the campaign trail but each day seems to hold a wonderful surprise or two.