Opposition parties are again criticizing the process for political appointments, only this time the colours have changed. Yesterday, the provincial human resources committee ratified 24 appointees and, as has always been the case, some had ties to the governing party. For example, Justin McDonough, son of former federal NDP leader Alexa McDonough, was appointed to the Trade Centre Ltd. board ...

East Coast Credit Union will shut down three branches in northeastern Nova Scotia early next year. The branches in North Isle Madame, Mulgrave and North East Margaree will close at the end of February, leaving 10 remaining in the credit union's network. President and CEO Doug Hastings says the decision was difficult but necessary in the light of the economic downturn and business conditions ...

About 25 people wore red ribbons as a flag bearing the same symbol was raised to a grey Halifax sky at the Nova Scotia legislature yesterday to kick off HIV/AIDS Awareness Week in the province. The cross-country campaign is put on each year to celebrate progress in the fight against AIDS and HIV, and this year's campaign has a specific focus on women, especially young women aged 15 to 29 ...

Graffiti artists in the Halifax Regional Municipality may someday be provided with an alternative to illegally splashing their work across private or city-owned property. At last night’s meeting of Halifax Regional Council, the city’s Graffiti Task Force recommended HRM adopt a formal registry that would allow artists to sign up and practice their craft legally through city-commissioned murals ...

The province announced yesterday it is restoring forests in Cape Breton’s Mabou Highlands, a section of land being ravaged by the spruce bark beetle. The harvesting of two sites on a total of 95 hectares of Crown land located in the northern end of the highlands is underway and is expected to last about two to three weeks. A provincial release issued yesterday said the harvesting will reduce the ...

Neptune Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol is a bit different from the usual adaptation of the holiday classic – it’s a musical. Eric Hughes was commissioned to write lyrics and a score for the production. The script was adapted from the original novel, which is conveniently divided into five staves – a musical term which designates a consistent theme or mood rather than chapter. English ...

Now in its 25th year, the Dalplex Christmas Craft Market has developed a reputation as being one of the best craft markets around. “A lot of people say it’s the best show in the city,” says Brenda MacNeil, the co-ordinator of the event. “A lot of new vendors contact me to come to our show saying they see other people and they say, ‘Oh, you should be in the Dalplex show.’ It’s got a good ...

With so many holiday events happening in Halifax over the next few weeks, deciding what to do, rather than finding something to do, will be the challenge most people face. If you’ve ever wondered what a Victorian Christmas was like, the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site is celebrating its 20th annual Victorian Christmas. “Let the spiced apple cider warm your hands and the sound of carolling ...

If jewelry, clothing and dream catchers are on your shopping list, head to the Black Market Boutique and cross them all off. Located on Grafton Street just a few steps away from Pizza Corner, the Black Market is known for its great prices and for being “filled to the brim” with products, says manager Lauren Parsons. “We just have a lot of inexpensive stuff,” she says. “You can get a lot from ...

Plenty of Haligonians continue to trade in guns to shoot pictures. Halifax Regional Police’s Pixels for Pistols program collected 234 guns in its third week, including 187 long guns and 47 hand guns and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The program, which is running the entire month of November, has collected a total of 443 guns and more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition since its launch ...

Nova Scotia is setting up an independent investigative unit to examine possible police misconduct in the province. Justice Minister Ross Landry says the unit will be comprised of seven positions and help bring a level of accountability to the justice system "that Nova Scotians have asked for." The unit will be arms-length and independent of police. Frank Beazley, chief of Halifax Regional Police ...

The Capital District Health Authority is closing its three H1N1 flu assessment centres until further notice. In a release issued yesterday, the department said the three clinics – located in Dartmouth, Halifax and Windsor – have seen much lower attendance in the past week, and that people who need advice on the treatment of H1N1 should now consult their doctors or call 811. The assessment ...

Tyler Sampson was attempting to come to the aid of his injured friend, Adam Eisenhauer, when he was stabbed at least 30 times, a Halifax courtroom heard yesterday. Details of the gruesome double murder of Eisenhauer, 26, and Sampson, 25, were revealed for the first time at a sentencing hearing for Michael Joseph Mitchelmore, who pleaded guilty to the killings and was sentenced to life in prison ...

Emotions ran high as family and friends of two murder victims watched Michael Joseph Mitchelmore be sentenced yesterday to life in prison with no eligibility of parole for 13 years. For his part, the 29-year-old apologized for the killings, breaking down in tears at several points. Last month, Mitchelmore pleaded guilty to the killings of Adam Eisenhauer, 26, of Glen Haven, and Tyler Sampson, 25 ...

Two men were arrested in relation to thefts from vehicles early yesterday morning in Halifax. Police say they saw two men on Victory Lane after thefts were made from vehicles on Lemarchant St. and in an underground parkade on Brunswick St. The men allegedly ran away but were arrested on Gottingen St. Christian Bennett, 23, and 28-year-old Garrett White, both of Halifax, face charges of break and ...

Police have located a man wanted on a parole warrant. On Friday, Halifax Regional Police issued a release asking for the public’s assistance in locating Preston Lynden Denny, 23, who was residing at a Halifax halfway house following a 2008 conviction for sexual assault and break and enter. Denny was reported missing Nov. 18 after failing to return to the halfway house. Police issued a release ...

The last time Mary-Allis Campbell tried to cross the MacDonald Bridge, it cost her $280. A dual-citizen who lives in California most of the year, Campbell was issued a ticket last Monday after attempting to pay the toll with a now-useless bridge token. The Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission stopped accepting tokens on May 1, 2008. But Campbell said she was unaware of the change until she got ...

Facing a “perfect storm” of warning signs, Dr. Jafna Cox will be seeking solutions as Nova Scotia’s first ever research chair in cardiovascular health. At a ceremony yesterday in Halifax, Cox said he hopes to bring people together from different fields to break new advancements. Judging by his speech, he’ll need all the help he can get. Heart disease is already the leading killer in Canada and ...

The body of New Waterford’s Darren Tatlock was found Sunday, almost two weeks after the man was reported missing. A New Waterford resident out walking his dog in a wooded area of Hulmes Lane, near Roaches Rd., discovered the body on a path and phoned 911 at about 11:25 a.m. “No foul play is suspected at this time,” said Staff Sgt. Robert Walsh of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service. “The ...

The Halifax Stanfield International Airport is looking to cook up more business when it comes their offerings of retail, food, and beverage and services. The Halifax International Airport Authority announced yesterday it has issued Request for Proposals for new services in three areas of the terminal building – arrivals, departures and the newly constructed corridor between the main lobby and ...