2021-03-24

Briefcase

Police car involved in collision

No one was hurt as a marked Bridgewater Police Service (BPS) cruiser was involved in a minor accident March 8 on the west side of town. The police vehicle was on routine patrol when a Nissan Frontier backed out of a driveway and struck it around 8:18 a.m. The compact pickup truck pulled out of an Alexandra Avenue driveway, crossed the street, colliding with the unit operated by Cst. Aaron Clarke, said Danny MacPhee, BPS's deputy chief of police. "The other driver was driving his young children to school," MacPhee told LighthouseNOW in an email. "He did not see the police vehicle due to salt on his side windows and the glare from the sun. He almost missed striking the police vehicle as he braked once the car passed him." Neither the Frontier driver, his young passengers, nor Clarke, were injured. Both vehicles sustained damage described as minor in nature. The police vehicle, which had what was described as minor scratches to the rear driver side, remained operational and didn't need to be taken out-of-service. Clarke was the only occupant of the unit. MacPhee said no charges will be filed in connection to the matter.

Special program established to spend $15,970 remaining grant money

Bridgewater agreed to set-up an emergency assistance fund in case local groups and community organizations impacted by the ongoing public health emergency are in need of quick cash. The town saw fewer applicants to its grants-to-organizations program, leaving an outstanding balance of nearly $16,000. While no one requested help via an emergency grant funding mechanism, Diana Johnson, the town's recreation and active communities coordinator, felt it's a good way to support struggling entities. "This is something that other municipal units and other provincial government organizations have provided to other people as well," Johnson told council. Town council agreed to the fund's creation, and transferred $15,970 to operating reserves to be used for the program during the current fiscal year. Civic politicians passed a motion to that affect March 8. "If there's a group that hasn't been able to fundraise because of the pandemic, and they need money to be able to survive post-pandemic, then this would be an opportunity," David Mitchell, Bridgewater's mayor, told LighthouseNOW during a phone call. The goal is to have the money committed by the end of April, Johnson told council. The maximum funding available for a group or organization that provides services to the town and its residents is $1,000. To access this, an applicant must "demonstrate that it has experienced a negative financial impact resulting from its inability to provide program opportunities, organize events and activities or has encountered general hardship" brought on by the pandemic. Charities and non-profits across the province have been financially impacted by cancelled events and activities, altered program delivery, and increased cost related to equipment, leadership, coaches, facilities and cleaning supplies.