NEW YEAR'S MESSAGES FROM CHUCK, ROB, AND MIKE

Hants West MLA Chuck Porter

During this time of year, Hants West families gather together in joy and celebration. We offer thanks for our families, our faith, and the many blessings in our lives.

  One of the blessings of living in Hants West is the abundance of natural beauty - from the clear streams, our rivers and lakes and rugged forestry land to many agricultural operations. These natural treasures are one of the blessings we give thanks for this Christmas.

  Something that has always impressed me, no matter where I travel within the constituency, is that every community is alive and well with great volunteer spirit. From breakfasts, to suppers to jam sessions to fundraisers, we see our communities come together in support of one another. I believe it is important to recognize and thank all of these great people who work hard and give of their time throughout the year.

  As our families celebrate this holiday season, it's important that we also remember those who are serving thousands of miles away to protect our freedom. During this time of giving, please remember the families of our men and women in the Canadian Military serving around the world.

  Without a doubt, 2012 proved to be a challenging time for families throughout Hants West.  Unfortunately as the local economy has suffered, we have seen industries close and jobs lost.

  While we face challenging times, I look forward to 2013 as another turn toward prosperity with hopes for job creation and an upswing in not only the world economy but our economy here at home. We must continue to focus on job creation so that our area and our province can succeed and have something to offer the many skilled youth coming out of our universities and trade schools, and give them an opportunity to live and raise their families here in Nova Scotia.

From our family to yours, Leslie and I extend our best wishes for a safe, happy and healthy Christmas season, and a New Year filled with joy and peace. May God continue to bless our great constituency of Hants West and the wonderful province we live in - Nova Scotia.

Rob Zwicker, Mayor of Hantsport

The New Year traditionally provides a time to reflect on the events of the previous year and prepare for the upcoming one.

  2013 will prove a challenging year for Hantsport with the loss of Minas Basin.  While we thank them for their years of partnership, our town must now draw together to support those who have lost their jobs and move forward as a community.

  I encourage you all to engage me and your council as we all adjust to this new reality.  Creative thoughts on how to move forward as a community are always appreciated.  My door is always open.

  I am very optimistic about our Town and its citizens moving into the future.  Our people are resilient and our community is strong.  The new businesses moving into Main and William Streets along with planned upgrades to our school will make our unique town ever more attractive to those looking for a safe and friendly place to live in the beautiful Annapolis Valley.

  From my wife Natasha and daughter Emily, Town Council and our dedicated staff, I wish you and your families all the best in the New Year.

Mayor Robbie Zwicker, Hantsport

Mike Ennis, Councilor for Kings South District 12  where the focus now is on Kings 2050. 

What should Kings County look like in the year 2050? The Kings 2050 initiative intends to answer this important question by developing a long-term vision for the region and improving Municipal regulations to better achieve our long-term goals.

Kings 2050 aims to guide the long-term sustainable development of the Kings Region so that future generations can enjoy a quality of life that is equal or better than today.

Many of the decisions we make today will affect how sustainable our community is from a social, economic, and environmental point-of-view. Choices such as where we put our roads, investment in infrastructure, preservation of farmland, and adaptation measures for climate change are decisions that cannot be made without knowing where we want to be in the future. A long-term vision allows the elected officials, staff, and residents of the Kings Region to plant the seeds of change today that will ultimately bear fruit over the next 38 years.

While the Kings 2050 vision will reach to the year 2050, many of the actions to implement and achieve that vision will have much more immediate effects. The Kings 2050 project will result in a new Land Use Bylaw and Subdivision Bylaw for the Municipality of Kings. The details of these documents will ultimately determine what development in your neighbourhood will look like, how we regulate renewable energy systems, opportunities for commercial development, and a host of other aspects that affect the day-to-day lives of the residents of Kings County.

Kings 2050 is about looking to the future, but taking action today.