“Our residents are anxious to see buses and ferries back in service and believe an affordable resolution to this work stoppage should be reached,” said Mayor Peter Kelly. “Residents are the ones negatively impacted and feeling the brunt of this continued work stoppage.”

In accordance with the revised mandate provided by Council yesterday, HRM today tabled a new proposal that includes a lump sum payment equivalent to 2.5 per cent of wages in the first year, a 3 per cent wage increase in the second year, and a 2 per cent wage increase in the third year. The wage increases would be offset by efficiencies gained through an improved scheduling system—known as ‘rostering’—that would reduce excessive overtime costs by packaging work in week-long blocks, as well as through wage restructuring for incoming transit operators.

The latest union proposal contains wage increases of 2.5 percent, 3 percent, 2.75 percent,, and no changes to the current scheduling practice, which allows transit operators to choose each shift they work in a week and leads to 80-100 shifts per week that need to be filled largely with overtime. Wage restructuring for new operators was also rejected.

“Getting back to the table and making real progress towards a solution will only happen if ATU is sincerely willing to work with HRM to find ways to be more efficient,” said Metro Transit Director Eddie Robar. “Make no mistake: contrary to ATU’s claims, it is about the money.”

With the savings from rostering and stepped-in wage increases for new transit operators, HRM’s offer is valued at $2.1 million – $6.7 million less than the proposal tabled by the ATU.

“Residents realize that there are only three ways to recover transit costs: operational efficiencies, the fare box, and on the backs of taxpayers. HRM cannot agree to terms that would further unduly increase the tax burden of residents,” said Mayor Kelly. “HRM taxpayers already pay more than 50 percent of the current transit costs, which represents an annual investment of more than $36 million.”

Metro Transit customers are advised to check the Metro Transit portion of the HRM website at www.halifax.ca/metrotransit for updated information. Information will also be shared by @hfxtransit on Twitter and through the HRM call centre at 490-4000.

Metro Transit is the primary transportation service provider in HRM and the largest transit system in Atlantic Canada, comprised of over 300 buses and three ferries. In addition to its conventional fixed route system with 61 routes, including the premium MetroLink and MetroX services, it operates three Community Transit routes, the harbour ferry service and the door-to-door Access-A-Bus service for persons with disabilities.

Three teams and a coach from the Falcon Academy of Robotics based out of Bedford won awards at the ACADIA University Robotics Competition held Saturday, February 4th.

The FLL competition is judged in four areas: project presentation; robot performance; technical design and programming of the robot; and teamwork.

The The Champions Award was awards to EIJ Robotics as the team that best exemplified the spirit and values of the FLL program. The team will have the opportunity to proudly represent Nova Scotia at the FIRST LEGO League North American Open Tournament of Champions to be held at Legoland in California this May.

ROBOmasters, also of Falcon Academy, received the First Place award for their Teamwork and the B.R.I.C.K.s of Bedford, of Falcon Academy, were First overall for their robot performance and the Narwal Nerds, of Second Bedford, received First Place for their Inspiration.

Coach Heather Travers, co-director of the Falcon Academy of Robotics, was also recognized for her significant contribution as a mentor and advocate for the growth, support, and development of FIrst Lego League throughout the province.

Coach Heather Travers was also recognized at the Competition as an Outstanding Coach for her significant contributions and mentorship to support the growth and promotion of First Lego League in Nova Scotia.

This September children around the world were tasked with the challenge and excitement of designing and building an original robot in the FIRST® LEGO® League(FLL) “Food Factor” Challenge.

On Saturday, February 4th at Acadia University, 29 teams of children and their coaches from across Nova Scotia enthusiastically demonstrated their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship, and sense of community.

Among the participants were Patrick Leblanc, Ben Huggard, Liam Travers, Keigan Tulloch and Ryan Rizcallah, Nick Palov, RowanTulloch of Eaglewood Elementary; Emma Travers of Bedford Junior High, Julia and Isabelle Sarty of Gorsebrook Junior High; Jack MacDonald of Kingswood Elementary and Nick McKenna of Waverley Memorial.

These grade four through nine students from Bedford are students of the Falcon Academy of Robotics and are members of the FLLTeams, B.R.I.C.K.S., B-building R-robotic I-inventions C-connects Ks-kids of Bedford, also known as “B.O.B.” , E.I.J. Robotics, and ROBOmasters.

FIRST LEGO League is an international program created in a partnership between FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and The LEGO® Group in 1998 based on a common belief that fun and learning go hand-in-hand, and that an inspired mind can accomplish anything.

Using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technologies and LEGO play materials, children work alongside adult mentors to design, build and program robots to complete missions based on real-world challenges. After eight intense weeks, the competition season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournament.

Led by coaches Heather Travers, Maurice Rizcallah, Diane Mackenzie, Shelly Tulloch and Maria MacDonald these teams designed and programed robots to compete in challenges at the FLL Food Factor Robotics Competition at Acadia last week-end.

Teams also had to complete a field project about a food contamination problem and came up with many problems that effect consumer safety. The teams researched listeria contamination of cantaloupe, safe milk handling at schools, and myths around proper chicken handling procedures to devise new and innovative solutions to each of these problems.

Each of the teams have done research, interviewed experts, conducted surveys, and came up with a solution that would keep Canadians safer from food contamination.

“This will help reduce the number of foodborne illnesses, making our food safer, and our community healthier!” chant the team members in unison. FLL has attracted 146,000 children, ages 9 to 14, in more than 50 countries to explore robotics solutions to issues in food contamination through “Food Factor,” a three-part Challenge.

In the Project phase of the Challenge, teams explore an actual problem that today’s scientists and engineers are trying to solve, develop an innovative solution to that problem, and share their findings. In the Robot Game teams build and program an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS technology to score points in 2.5-minute matches on a themed playing field.

The FLL Core Values are the fundamental elements that distinguish FLL from other programs of its kind. Participants learn that friendly competition and mutual gain are not separate goals, and that helping one another is the foundation of teamwork.

The teams have also gone on to enter their innovative solutions in The FIRST® LEGO® League Global Innovation Award which is designed to encourage and assist FLL teams to further develop their innovative solutions to real-world problems.

One FLL team will win the expenses associated with a patent to take their food safety invention to the next level. Falcon Academy has two of six Canadian entries in this global contest with on-line voting currently underway at www.fllinnovationaward.firstlegoleague.org.

Currently in its twelfth year, FIRST LEGO League anticipates its biggest season ever, with more than 170,000 children in more than 50 countries competing in hundreds of Qualifying Tournaments and Championship Tournaments.

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering.

With the support of many of the world’s most well-known companies, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school students, FIRST LEGO League for children 9-14 years old, and the Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year olds.

To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org. To learn more about next year’s “Senior Solutions” Challenge or to find out how to get involved in FIRST LEGO League, go to www.FIRSTLEGOLeague.org.

Hi All,

We need you there for support so please come out

The SLRPA and DNR are hosting an Open House this Wednesday to present to the community the proposed alignment for the next section of trail construction at Second Lake. Please come out with your support and comments.

The Open House is this Wednesday, February 8, at the Sackville Library, Fenerty Room, from 6:30 to 8:15. Please see the map below.

Everyone is welcome.

Monte Carlo Night

Come on out and help support the Sackville Heights Community Centre (this is where the SRA has its Office) 6 pm 25 Feb. $10 per person

The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and the fire was eventually extinguished. It is not known at this time what caused the fire and there are no injuries to report.

The Bedford Highway was shut down between Medowbrook Drive and Sullivans Hill Road, but it has now reopened.

Fyi: Persepolis Food Market opened its doors for business on June 5, 2010. www.bedfordbeacon.com/persepolis-food-market-opens-its-doors

She coaches clients to use real and natural foods to achieve their healthiest body and mind.

She runs her own business called Nova Scotia’s Nutrition Coach:

Mike (my husband) made a declaration over a decade ago stipulating that when one of us walks in the door at the end of the work day we greet each other with a kiss. He is very strict about this rule. The kiss must happen before we start talking about the plans for the evening, what needs to be done for dinner or any minor frustrations of the day.

So we greet each other with a hug and a kiss, usually in the kitchen. Now, perhaps you do the smooch thing already…but if you don’t, I highly recommend it. Take a minute to pucker up, give your honey a good squeeze and look into each others eyes to remember why you are together.

Then you can start with the list of chores or complaints of how you have two teenage boys but neither have brought in the garbage cans from the curb…ahem…for example…

Now that we have started something beautiful, how about making this great soup starter…

I really dislike the taste of commercial broths and powdered bouillons – blech! They taste so tinny and fake and often have MSG in them. I try to make broth from our roasted chickens and stock from veggies to keep stored in our freezer, but these do take time and a lot of space in the freezer…so when I saw this “Soup Starter” recipe by Pam Corbin on the Culinate blog, I was pretty excited!

This is so easy and makes a delicious starting point for a nourishing pot of soup, stew or risotto.

Now don’t taste it and go all whiny on me: ”Its soooo salty, Edie.” I did cut the salt back by 75% from the original recipe. The salt is used as a preservative and flavour booster and it is meant to be a concentrated paste. I am keeping mine in the freezer.

SOUP STARTER

You will only use 1 – 2 tbsp per cup of hot water for the soup, stew or risotto.

(You can substitute or omit vegetables to suit your taste and what you have available. Great way to use up tired veggies!)

2-3 medium leeks, rinsed and chopped

3 celery stalks, rinsed and chopped

1 celery root, peeled and chopped

3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

1 onion, peeled and diced

3-4 sun-dried tomatoes

3 peeled garlic cloves

1/4 cup kosher salt or sea salt

2-3 handfuls of parsley, washed and chopped

(You may have to puree this in batches and mix it all together in a large bowl at the end)

Throw the leeks, celery, celery root and carrots in the food processor and process until it is very finely chopped.

Add the onion, tomatoes and garlic. Process.

Add the salt and process until it is a moist, minced mixture.

Add the parsley and process until it is finely minced.

I recommend scooping out 1/4 cup portions onto a cookie sheet and freezing – then put into a freezer bag and store in freezer.

You can put some in a jar and store in the fridge for a couple of weeks.

Add 1 – 2 tbsp per cup of water in place of a broth or stock in a soup, stew, or risotto recipe

You will love having this as a staple in your freezer…you can kiss me later…!

2012 Acadia University Robot Programming Competitions, in which 29 teams from across the province competed.

Core Value award for Inspiration – Narwhal Nerds – 2nd Bedford Pathfinders.

Core Values award for Teamwork – ROBOMasters – Falcon Academy of Robotics.

B.R.I.C.K.S. of Bedford – Falcon Academy of Robotics, won Robot Performance Award (best overall score on competition tables).

Heather Travers of Bedford won coaching award.

High School Robotics Programming Competition Champion Award, won by CP Allan High School team.

Congratulations to all!

Geoff Regan, M.P. for Halifax West expressed delight at the unanimous support in the House of Commons for his Private Members Bill to promote epilepsy awareness.

Bill C-278, an Act respecting a day to increase public awareness about epilepsy, passed Second Reading on Friday and was referred to the Standing Committee on Health. The bill establishes March 26th as Purple Day, a day each year when we Canadians wear purple to raise awareness of epilepsy.

In the House today, Regan said: “I want to close, though, with my thoughts and my appreciation to all members but particularly to Cassidy Megan, the young girl who started all this, of whom I am so proud. This means a great deal to all of us and I look forward to this bill succeeding and I appreciate the support of members.”

This beautiful marine and wildlife habitat will soon be destroyed as part of Bedford’s infill project to create condominiums in an urbanized waterfront.

This includes a substantial reef containing a large inter-tidal zone teeming with marine life.

The purpose of this group is to create public awareness and advocate the saving of the only natural shoreline left on the western shore of Bedford . This includes a substantial reef containing a large tidal pool sustaining marine life, and natural shoreline which is home to migratory birds.

The organizers of Safe the Bedford Basin Reef will be collecting paper petitions at the end of February…if you want to sign a petition join the group on Facebook and organizer Sandra Banfield will give you more information…or you can sign the online petition.

No time to waste, spring is coming.

On January 26 at 1:23 p.m., police responded to the Sunnyside Mall located at 1595 Bedford Highway for a report of a robbery in progress. A man entered the Running Room, produced a handgun, demanded cash and fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

A staff member was assaulted during the incident and EHS was requested to check on her. While this was obviously a traumatic experience, thankfully she was not injured during the incident.

On January 27, investigators charged, and issued a warrant for 39-year-old Kenneth Curry Sykes with robbery, uttering threats, wearing a disguise with intent, using a firearm or imitation in commission of an offence, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and carrying a concealed weapon. He has not yet been located and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.