A viral video created by a small indy film crew from Bedford and Lower Sackville is not only making waves in the national Doritos viral video contest, but their video was also sampled by Doritos and Much Music in their ad promoting the contest.

The video was directed and edited by Bedford-native Paul St-Amand, an award-winning film maker who last year won Kevin Spacey’s online film festival with his student film, Parallels.

His team on the project is the same team that was behind The Lot, a short raw comedy featured in last year’s Atlantic Film Festival, about a rivalry between two used car dealerships in Lower Sackville.

This video was made on an ultra-low budget. The only money spent was on snacks for the all-volunteer cast.

The primary crew behind the video consists of Paul St-Amand of Dartmouth, Chad Lindsay of Lower Sackville, Karan Sidhu of Dartmouth, Andy Bowers of Bedford, Devin Deuville of Halifax and Jean St-Amand of Bedford.

Paul is an award-winning film production graduate of Vancouver Film School and Devin is an aspiring camera operator. The rest of the crew is enthusiastic film amateurs that bring other skills to the team. The entire team has aspirations in sketch comedy.

The Doritos contest was something the crew saw advertised during the Superbowl.

They were looking for a project that could be completed while the weather was still iffy (they have another production in the works that requires summer-time exteriors) and so the contest came at the perfect time.

The team brainstormed on a concept, scripted it out and allowed the cast to ad-lib much of their parts.

The contest’s structure revolves around social media, with points awarded for every view, share, fav, retweet, rating, etc.

The contest closes March 31 with a winner announced April 1st.

Top prize is $100,000. The winning video, as well as several of Doritos’ favourites, will be broadcast on a brief awards show on Much Music sometime in April.

The team’s viral video can also be seen at www.doritosscandal.com.

The Doritos/Much Music Ad can be seen at www.muchmusic.com/promo/doritos10/.

Cast your vote and support your local film makers!

Police have released a sketch of sexual assault suspect.

The HRP/RCMP Integrated Major Crime Unit is asking for the public’s help identifying a man in connection with a sexual assault last month in Halifax.

On February 7 at approximately 4 a.m. a 20 year-old female victim and her friend were walking home when they were approached by the suspect in the area of Queen and Morris Streets.

The suspect reached under the victim’s skirt and touched her. When the victim confronted the suspect, he produced a small pipe-like object and threatened both women.

The suspect was scared off when a man approached from the area of Morris Street.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 26 years-old, 6 feet tall and weighing about 170 lbs. He has a round face, short scruffy hair and an athletic build. At the time of the incident he was wearing a black stocking or toque style hat, blue jeans and a black fall jacket.

Anyone recognizing the man in the attached sketch or with information in relation to this incident is asked to call police at 490-5016.

Information can also be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.

Changing Gears: Youth Cycling in Nova Scotia

The workshop will consider the obstacles to more youth cycling in Nova Scotia and identify solutions. They are looking for your ideas.

The Halifax Cycling Coalition website states that:

“The number of young people who cycle to school, recreational activities and just for fun has plummeted in the past two decades.

This decline in personal mobility has resulted in increased time in Mom’s and Dad’s Taxi and to physical inactivity that is causing significant long-term health problems for the next generation.”

The goal of the workshop “is to create a collective action plan that can be used by governments, schools, young people, parents and anyone with an interest in youth health and well being to make it safer and more convenient for young people to cycle or to be cycled.”

This event is co-organized by the Ecology Action Centre’s Active & Safe Routes to School program and the Halifax Cycling Coalition. It is supported by Transport Canada, The Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, the Halifax Regional Municipality and Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Please RSVP before March 25 to workshop@cyclehalifax.ca.

Food and refreshments will be served.

Learn more at www.cyclehalifax.ca and www.saferoutesns.ca.

On April 1, 2008 hand-held cell phone use and text messaging while driving became prohibited, and on April 13, 2009 it became mandatory for all vehicles in Nova Scotia to use daytime running lights.

Both of these changes are aimed at helping to keep our roadways safe.

In February, the Unit’s focus was tinted windows and suspended drivers. They wrote 1,198 tickets during the month, including 32 for tinted windows and nine for driving while suspended.

The ban is being lifted earlier than usual this year in recognition of the mild weather and the continuing mild forecast for the remainder of the week.

The overnight ban went into effect on December 14, 2009 in the urban core service area. The ban can remain in place until the end of March but can also be lifted earlier by the HRM Traffic Authority if weather permits.

“The intention was to lift the ban on March 12, but the stretch of milder weather has made it possible to do it now,” said Traffic Authority Ken Reashor.

This year saw 10,503 tickets issued for violation of the ban, compared with 18,038 for the same period last year.

Motorists are reminded that Section 139 of the province’s Motor Vehicle Act provides that parked vehicles obstructing snow removal operations at any time throughout the year may be towed.

HRM 4 Pad Arena Facility Advisory Committee

HRM is seeking Expressions of Interest from four residents to serve on the HRM 4 Pad Arena Facility Advisory Committee.

Citizen-Financial Background Required (1)
Citizen-Member at Large (3)

The Committee’s primary role is to provide advice on the operations of the HRM 4 Pad Arena in Hammonds Plains, including the Community Access Plan, pricing and allocation of ice, etc…This committee will make recommendations to HRM and its operating partner Nustadia Recreation Inc. as per the Terms of Reference as included in the Facility Operating Agreement.

Persons interested in serving on this Committee are encouraged to submit a letter of interest to the municipality. The letter should include any relevant information such as any knowledge or interest in community or regional sport and recreation facility operations.

Expressions of Interest may be submitted to the Municipal Clerks Office, Halifax Regional Municipality, PO Box 1749, Halifax, NS B3J 3A5 or email clerks@halifax.ca, or fax to 902-490-4208.

Poulette has been professionally assessed as a high risk to re-offend in a sexual manner.

Police are providing information to all citizens of Nova Scotia, particularly those residing in Halifax Regional Municipality, about a sexual offender living in our community.

Thirty-eight year old Benjamin Andrew Poulette has been released from a federal penitentiary after serving time for sexual assault.

Poulette has multiple convictions dating back to 1992 which include sex related offences.

He has been professionally assessed as a high risk to re-offend in a sexual manner.

It is believed that Poulette may access social agencies and/or transition houses in HRM and may visit First Nations communities within Nova Scotia.

As part of his release Poulette has been placed on a number of conditions. He is described as aboriginal with a medium complexion and black hair, 5′7″ tall and weighs 159 lbs.

THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO ALERT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OF HIS RELEASE INTO THE COMMUNITY. ANY FORM OF VIGILANTE ACTIVITY OR OTHER UNREASONABLE CONDUCT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

She believes in using real and natural foods to achieve the healthiest body and mind that we were meant to possess.

She will provide you with the tools, support and the plan you need to live a healthier lifestyle!

Edie will be a regular contributor to the Bedford Beacon. Here is her first pep talk:

Fitting in Fun…and Fitness

These days we don’t have to put out much physical energy to live our day-to-day lives. Cars, elevators, e-mail, remote controls and tons of other convenience tools make our lives easier… maybe a little too easy!

So in order to keep our bodies in good working order we must fit exercise into our days. Our bodies were designed to move.

I decided to write on this when I met my Aunt Helen after her skate on Wednesday. As I waited in my vehicle outside the Halifax Metro Centre in downtown Halifax, I watched streams of happy people exiting the rink carrying their skates and big smiles on their faces-people on their lunch break, retirees, young couples, and finally, my aunt, at 67. She was sparkling.

All of these people had had fun AND exercise. My Aunt told me that every Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is an Open Skate from 12:00-12:50 p.m. for $3 ($2.50 for a book of 10 skates!). What a great deal and great fun.

For many of us, the word exercise may not equate with fun. If that is true for you, I ask you to take a little time to think of what kind of physical activity would be fun for you.

What did you enjoy as a child, or during your teen years? Was it swimming, tennis, volleyball, badminton, or…skating? Chances are, you will enjoy it again!

And the fitter you are the better swimmer, tennis player, skater, etc., you will be. This may inspire you to work your body a little more during your usual exercise routines!

You can get in touch with Edie by phone at 441-6602 or by email at shaw.ewald@ns.sympatico.ca.

For more information on Edie and all that she has to offer visit nutritioncoachedie.com.