Property Assessment Notices are expected to be mailed out by mid January. There will be a 21 day official Appeal Period whereby property owners can review and perhaps refute their appraisals. If you feel it is not assessed properly, then you should contact the NS Municipality Agency - Property Valuation Services Corporation ( PVSC ) and speak with an Assessment Services representative. The PVSC Assessment Office is located at Park Place Two, 238-A Brownlow Avenue, Suite 200, Dartmouth, NS, B3B 2B4. Telephone: 720-7872 or by Fax: 720-7873 or Toll-Free: 1-800-667-5727. Property owners are encouraged to call and talk to an Assessor, prior to appealing an assessment. Perhaps this approach may answer and clear up some questions that you may have, hopefully avoiding the time and expense of an appeal. If not, you have the right to make a formal appeal, (in writing) either by letter or fax or hand-delivered, which must be received by their office on, or before the deadline posted on the notice. Appeals by e-mail are not yet acceptable by provincial legislation. For more details, please refer to the PVSC Appeal Guide at : www.pvsc.ca/sub_pages/assessment_notice/assessment_notice_main.html

If you should have any further enquiries about the appeal process or other queries about property valuation, please refer to their web-site at: www.PVSC.ca for more info.

Effective Monday, February 1st, patrons will see earlier and later service runs coming to our Community Transit. The new schedule tries to best optimize connections in both directions at the Portland Hills terminal. For more details on the schedule, please refer to http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/documents/PortersLakeSchedule.pdf

HRM Fire & Emergency Service wants to remind all citizens that accidents occur every year within HRM due to the improper use of portable generators, heaters, and fuel burning appliances; such as wood-stoves, fire places, pellet stoves and wood furnaces. We should also be aware of electrical safety and possible carbon monoxide gas poisoning. For more helpful information about safe home heating tips and other best practices for safety throughout the year, please contact the Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency division of Fire Prevention at 490-5546 or clink on-line to : www.halifax.ca/fireprevention/HomeHeating.html

February 2010 will mark the 26th year Nova Scotians have celebrated African Heritage Month in this province. Since 2008, the African Heritage Month Information Network - a partnership of community organizations have gathered together to help ensure the promotion and awareness of events and activities in HRM and province wide. Be sure to check out the ANSA website for its African Heritage Month calendar for more program details on upcoming events and functions: www.gov.ns.ca/ansa/AHMEvents09.asp

Annually the Black Cultural Centre (BCC) awards this prestigious distinction to a few deserving individuals from the Nova Scotia Black Community who exemplify community service and leadership. The event will be on Saturday, February 13th, 7 PM at the BCC, 1149 Main Street at Cherry Brook. This function is open to the general public. Admission is a free-will donation. For more information, please call 434-6223 or 434-2306. Congratulations to the 2010 recipients.

Parents should be aware of the signs their child is being bullied, or may be a bully. The Halifax Regional Police & RCMP aims to make our homes, schools, and communities safe for our children, and they need your help. The Bullying Hotline was established under the direction of the Community Relations - Crime Prevention Section of the Halifax Regional Police Department. The Police will not ask for your name, but if you call after hours and want a call back, please leave your name and number. The bully team will listen and talk with you. Calls, texts, and e-mails are answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, and an answering machine takes messages after hours and on weekends. Students and youth don’t have to leave their name. You don’t need permission to make contact; call, text, e-mail when you want. Parents and teachers, you too can call the line for assistance if you have concerns about bullying in school or at home. Call 490-SAVE (7283) or text 233-SAVE or e-mail bullyhotline@halifax.ca

For more information about the Bullying Hotline, go on-line to: www.halifax.ca/Police/Programs/bullying.html