Beacons, break-ins and hope for health

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It’s great to hear work has begun to fix up Caribou lsland lighthouse.

While the original purpose for the lighthouse, as a signal to those travelling the seas, may no longer be necessary, there’s something about a lighthouse that still shines as a beacon of hope and welcoming.

This particular lighthouse is a familiar sight to people coming and going on the Northumberland Ferry to P.E.I. which is often carrying tourists this time of year. It’s nice for it to be looking good and presenting the right first impression of our province and county.

While the work is being done by the Canadian Coast Guard, residents also owe a debt of gratitude to those who have volunteered time and energy to add a park-like feel around the lighthouse and have campaigned for its preservation.

We hope, with their continued efforts, it will continue to shine light on our county for many more years.

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Crime is never welcome in any community, but to hear of three break and enters in one night is particularly disturbing. Such was the case in a quiet neighbourhood on the East Side of New Glasgow this past weekend when three homes were broken into. We hear police have a person of interest who’s been apprehended. There are always root issues that lead a person to commit crimes like this. Let’s hope whoever is responsible addresses those issues in their life.

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Any announcements that address the need for more doctors in rural areas is positive.

We believe Tuesday’s announcement in Truro that six doctors will be doing their residency in Northern Nova Scotia is a good step toward addressing the physician crisis we’re currently in.

Too many people in Pictou County are not getting the medical attention they need because they don’t have a family doctor.

The new residency spaces will go into effect in July 2019 and will last for two-year terms. It’s not a quick fix but it may be a lasting one.

According to the announcement Tuesday, the residents will work in family doctor practices with their patients to gain skills and experience in such areas as maternal care, psychiatry and geriatrics.

We’re sure that once these doctors get a taste for life in rural Nova Scotia, they’ll come to love it as much as we do.

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Summer festivals are in full swing in Pictou County. This week will see a Celtic celebration as the Festival of the Tartans is hosted in New Glasgow with pipes and drums, heavy event games and a long list of other attractions. Meanwhile, in Trenton, there’s a full schedule of activities planned for FunFest.

A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make these festivals a success, but it’s effort well spent.

These festivals do more than provide something to do on summer weekends. For participants it’s a chance to get out and talk with neighbours and friends you haven’t talked with in a while. It creates a sense of community. Kudos to all the volunteers that make these events successful.