Town of Berwick, Nova Scotia

Berwick Community Theatre was started over 30 years ago, and despite lulls in activity has given adults in the Berwick district a chance to exercise their theatrical and creative talents. The group works co-operatively and is always interested in new talent, either on- or off-stage. The current executive members are Eileen Floris, Don Sanford, Judith Wells and Lisa Newcombe. The group is very appreciative of the continuing and overwhelming community support. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more info. The company also has a Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27123916192

The Town has secured funding from the Eco-Trust Fund to perform an Emissions Inventory audit for buildings, equipment and vehicles. Berwick is one of a few Nova Scotia municipalities occupying a leadership position in this crucial issue of environmental stewardship and energy initiatives. Read the press release from the Nova Scotia Government. The Town will publish the results as soon as they are available.

The Town of Berwick and the County of Kings have released the results of a recent feasibility study for a Joint Industrial Park in the Berwick area. The study forecasts significant demand for additional industrial and commercial land in Kings County over the next 25 years. Download the Executive Summary. Translated into employment numbers, the consultants' conservative estimate for the same quarter-century period pegs about 2,500 new jobs created.

Legislation to prohibit hand-held phone use and text messaging while driving will come into force on April 1.

Take steps to ensure you are equipped with the necessary equipment allowing you hands-free phone usage when necessary. Please continue to use your good judgement and limit all cellular usage when driving.

Chapter 293 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 100C the following Section:

100D (1) It is an offence for a person to use a hand-held cellular telephone or engage in text messaging on any communications device while operating a vehicle on a highway.

(2) This Section does not apply to a person who uses a hand-held cellular telephone or other communications device to report an immediate emergency situation.

The fine for using a hand-held phone while driving is $164.50 for the first offence, $222 for a second and $337 for any subsequent offences.

Tips from your Berwick RCMP detachment:

• Don't give out your personal information over the phone or Internet unless you trust the source.
• Check your credit report every year and report any problems immediately.
• Shred unwanted personal documents such as transaction records, credit applications, insurance forms, cheques, financial statements and tax returns.

The Nova Scotia Department of Justice has written to Mayor John Prall notifying him that an additional officer is coming to the municipality upon 2008-09 budget approval. The letter announces: 

New officers have been allocated across the province to address drugs, thefts, assaults, child pornography, school safety, drug education, family violence and proceeds of crime. 

Thanks to excellent working relationships between the Municipality of the County of Kings, the Town of Berwick, the Berwick and District Fire Commission and, of course, the Berwick and District Volunteer Fire Department we have one of the most cost-efficient fire services in the Province. For the Town on a per capita basis, less than a dollar/week, about $40 annually, goes towards the cost of providing fire services. That's the 2nd lowest of all towns in Nova Scotia. Click continue below to see the full list of 31 Towns and their respective fire services costs per capita.

Fifteen photos from around Town, cold day, Feb. 2, 2008 

• Tire swirls in snow Tire swirls in snow
• Gingerbready blue house on Main St. Gingerbready blue house on Main St.
• Can you find the crow in the birch? Can you find the crow in the birch?
• Frame and panel door Frame and panel door
• White and bright, South and Maple Sts. White and bright, South and Maple Sts.
• Mary in the bower, Mill St. Mary in the bower, Mill St.
• Elegant corner house, Mountain View and Maple Elegant corner house, Mountain View and Maple
• Going north on Maple Ave. Going north on Maple Ave.
• Public Works, Main St. Public Works, Main St.
• Shortcut to school from Foster St. Shortcut to school from Foster St.
• Tennis anyone? Yeah, maybe in 3 months! Tennis anyone? Yeah, maybe in 3 months!
• Tennis light standard Tennis light standard
• Tennis clubhouse, Cottage Ave. Tennis clubhouse, Cottage Ave.
• White on white White on white
• Wood on wood Wood on wood
•  

The new fire hall project has entered its next phase with the first design meeting held January 29, 2008. Roscoe Construction reps sat down with subcontractors, the architects, and a new subcommittee of Town and Firefighter participants. Over a couple of hours, this group poured over the plans fine-tuning details of Roscoe's bid submission.

• New Fire Hall New Fire Hall
• Administration Office Administration Office
• Quartermaster Quartermaster
•  

Click to enlarge photo + 3 more in mini-gallery)

We're still working through a few administrative bumps with the new web site. On the old site local citizens could enter events directly on the events calendar. We'll get there soon with the new site, but first we need to become a little more familiar with its mechanics. For now, please call the office (538-4068) or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll put your event on the calendar for you.  

After many years of struggling with the deficiences of an obsolete, inefficiently designed fire hall, the dream of a brand new facility is within sight--October 2008 targeted. Getting to the point of awarding the design/build contract has been a long haul--for Council, staff, for the Berwick and District Fire Commission and the Berwick and District Volunteer Fire Department. Here's the core team, but there are many, many others who have made huge contributions to the project so far.

• New Fire Hall Team New Fire Hall Team
•  

Click on thumbnail to enlarge team photo

The remuneration of Councilors will soon be under review. We are looking for two citizen representatives to join a special committee to do just that. No special expertise is required. If you are a citizen of Berwick and want a say in determining what is fair and reasonable for Councilor honorariums, please contact our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (538-4006). We'd encourage you to get engaged in Town decisions. It's not as intimidating as you might think!