COMMUNITY  &  EVENTS  GRANTS
HRM Community Grants Program awards annual grants to registered non-profit organization as a modest assistance to community-based volunteer initiatives. This year, 98 applications were received requesting $ $1,134,517.55 in total. But only 56 requests were granted with aid totalling $413,478.00 .  A complete detailed copy of this year=s Council report is available at: www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/120522ca1131.pdf  Here is a list of grants that were awarded to local organizations :

Calvin United Church – Lawrencetown – a capital grant of $5,000 to upgrade the church hall’s water treatment system and acquisition of a commercial dishwasher for use as an EMO designated comfort centre.

Cole Harbour Rural Heritage Society – a capital grant of $5,000 for the development of archival capacity for the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum, a municipally registered heritage site.

Eastern Shore Forest Watch Association – Head of Jeddore – A project grant of $1,774  to purchase small equipment for the Green Wood Working Program.

Lake Charlotte & Area Heritage Society – a capital grant of $12,500 for electrical upgrades, audio and stage lighting, and other  building materials .

North Ship Harbour Community Hall – a capital grant of $20,000 towards electrical and energy upgrades.

Friends of St. James United Church Society – Spry Bay – a capital grant of $12,000 towards professional conservator fees for window restoration of a municipally registered heritage property.

Moser River & Area Historical Society – a capital grant of $1,200 for minor interior drywall repairs to the McMann House.

Parish of St. Barnabas ( St. John’s Church Hall ) – Necum Teuch –  a capital grant of $4,000 towards partial roof re-shingling and replacement window for a municipally registered heritage building.

Black Ice Hockey & Sports Hall of Fame Society – Dartmouth – a project grant of $4,370 towards the fabrication of four (4) interpretation panels to increase public awareness of the role of local African Nova Scotia athletes, coaches, officials and sport administrators in the sport of ice hockey.

Canoe Kayak Canada / Atlantic Division – Dartmouth – A capital grant of $5,000 towards electrical upgrades to the Judge’s Tower located on Lake Banook.

A couple of other HRM Festival & Events Grants were given to the Lake Echo Lions for its Fiesta Days Fair ($1,500) and to Lake Charlotte’s Heritage Village for its Dominion Day Old Time Fair ($500.) HRM also approved various Summer Festival Grant awards ( $3,550 each ) from its Community & Civic Events 2012/13 Operating Budget to some of our own local communities for their activities and events :   Porters Lake – Lake & Shore Days (Aug. 5 -12th) ; North Preston Day Community Festival (Aug. 9-11th ) ;  and Cole Harbour Harvest Festival (Sept. 7 & 8th).

HRM ACQUIRES LOCAL BEACHES
As reported back in Oct. 2008 – Issue #131, HRM has once again bought some strategic parkland sites throughout the District. HRM has acquired some more local beaches in order to preserve them for public access.  Seaforth Beach across from Gaetz Lake by Seller’s Head Road. This property is highly used for its beach and ocean access area for surfers, swimmers, and sunbathers. As well this property is directly situated next to the Blueberry Run / Trans-Canada Trail – rail bed corridor. HRM has also bought a lakeside beach on Porters Lake off Crowell Road across from Parkwood Drive in East Lawrencetown. This acquisition further enhances the adjacent municipal parkland holding. HRM park-planners  will be working to develop this site into a community lakefront park but will appreciate neighbourhood input on any concept plans. Also HRM has recently awarded a $455,616.15  contract for Tender # T12-222 to Ian Sinclair Contracting Services Ltd. for the construction of the Lake Charlotte Public Access Road and Boat Launch. Have a safe time on the water !