Linked Header

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Several Memembers Leave Joshua Group

Six members of the board of directors for the Joshua Group resigning over a disagreement about what direction the local charity should take.    It leaves 7 members on the board.

The group that helps local at-risk kids in the city's priority neighbourhoods is well-known since its founder Bobby Hayes won a national award for being a Champion of Change.

CHSJ News learning the board will carry on and fill those vacancies.There are no "hard feelings" and we are told it does relate to the Joshua group's current search for a permanent home.

Different Angles At Play For Tonight's Debate

UNB Saint John Political Scientist Don Desserud says tonight's leaders' debate will be an opportunity for all of the players.

Desserud tells CHSJ News it will give NDP Leader Jack Layton a chance to regain any supports that have jumped shipped to the Liberals in effort to defeat Stephen Harper.

He says the best move for Harper is to allow the three other candidates to dog pile him in order to prove that a majority government is needed.

Six Members Of A Local Charity's Board Of Directors Quit

Six members of the board of directors for the Joshua Group resigning over a disagreement about what direction the local charity should take.    It leaves 7 members on the board.

The group that helps local at-risk kids in the city's priority neighbourhoods is well-known since its founder Bobby Hayes won a national award for being a Champion of Change.

CHSJ News learning the board will carry on and fill those vacancies.
There are no hard feelings and we are told it does relate to the Joshua group's current search for a permanent home.


Moore Does Not Fear Backlash From Voter Fatigue

Rob Moore is not experiencing voter backlash as he travels door to door in the riding of Fundy Royal but, people are still wondering why this election is even happening.
The Conservative incumbent tells CHSJ News the voters feel strongly about that.

He says they know the opposition parties are responsible for the current campaign and he doesn't fear voter backlash but, he hopes his constituents use the desire to not have another election to get out and vote.

Moore adds a lot of the issues are the same as in 2008 but, it's more positive since a lot of the concern over the economic downtown is behind us.

Parents Group Meets With Edcuation Minister Tonight Over Proposed French School


Parents pushing for a Francophone school in the valley will be meeting with Education Minister Jody Carr tonight.

The group is looking for a commitment from the province to build a Francophone school in the Valley so that french students will no longer have to travel long distances for classes.

The parents group is threatening legal action against the province if a school is not built.

Green Party Candidate Says Province Needs Green Jobs

Sharon Murphy-Flatt is throwing her hat into the political ring again.

She ran as the Green Party's candidate in the provincial election for the Rothesay riding and this time she's looking to win the federal seat in Saint John.

She tells CHSJ News green industries need to be brought to the province as our current industrial businesses are not sustainable. 

She would also aim to get Point Lepreau decommissioned, claiming it's a money sink and poses a serious health risk to all New Brunswickers.

PRO Kids Still Optimistic Despite Not Winning $10,000 In Contest

They didn't get quite enough votes to secure the  $10,000 but, PRO Kids are still better for taking part in the Irving Oil Challenge Cup contest.
By voting on Facebook for the KV Rangers, PRO Kids was in the running for the money but, lost to a PEI when the contest closed on Sunday night.
PRO Kids Manager Tammy Desaulniers tells CHSJ News it was definitely a nail-biter.  Kidsport of PEI wins the money and Desaulniers says they are in the same business as PRO Kids.  The Saint John Wanderers football club is hosting a clinic featuring CFL players next month and half of the proceeds will go to PRO Kids.


Housing Market Slows In Saint John

Housing prices have fallen in Saint John from 1.6 per cent for a standard 2 storey home all the way up to 6.3 per cent for a detached bungalow. John McAloney of Royal LePage is not surprised. He tells CHSJ News it's a buyer's market.

According to Royal LePage, average prices range from 162 thousand dollars for a standard condo to 178 thousand for a detached bungalow and 295 thousand dollars for standard two storey home.

McAloney says the K-V market remains strong because people are still moving there and lower housing prices are remote, if not non-existent.

Early Morning Fire Sounds Suspicious

The cause of an early morning fire in the north end is being investigated by both the fire department and city police.

The blaze started around 2:30 at 28 Albert Street.

There has been heavy fire damage to the 2 and a half storey building.

Water Rescue On East Side

City Police along with fire crews from the city and the K-V responding to a water rescue in the Bradley Lake area.

The fire department telling us two people were trying to get a dog out of the water when the call was made.

 By the time police and firefighters arrived, the two people were safely on shore.

East Side M-L-A Unsure About Provincial Money For Water

Saint John East MLA Glen Tait unable to make a commitment as to whether the province will be on board with helping to pay for clean drinking water.

He says Premier David Alward needs to be briefed on all the details and the province is keeping a close eye on the chequebook book due to the province's huge debt load.
He calls the 4 year time table for clean drinking water "optimistic."
 
Tait, when he was a member of Common Council, pushed hard to get Harbour Cleanup up and running.

Council Told Time To Act Is Now On Better Water

Common Council is setting a 4 year goal towards getting water treatment facilities up and running in the city in order to provide safe clean drinking water.

The head of Municipal Operations Paul Groody says it's an aggressive target but the time is now because every year the project is put off will cost the city an additional 8 to 10 million dollars.

Total price tag of the project is 172 million dollars over four years with the goal being to have it cost shared with the province and the federal government. That would put the cost for the city at about 57 million dollars.

Development Around Rockwood Park Officially Nixed

Land around Rockwood Park is now officially protected.

Council came up short at the last council meeting to protect the land because two councillors were absent.

The decision comes after much public outcry over possible residential and commercial development around the park.

Councillor Chris Titus has been very critical about the lack of public debate on the issue and says council should have held an official public meeting.

Court Appearance In Death Of Cyclist


A 28 year old truck driver made his first court appearance in Hampton after being charged in the death of a cyclist on Highway 7 last September.

Jason Donald Dickison of Meductic is charged with driving without due care and attention and exceeding his hours of service under the Motor Vehicle Act.

He has not entered a plea yet and the case was put over until May 17th.

23 year old Andrew Wolf of New York City was riding with a group of other cyclists when he was killed in a collision with a transport truck September 16th near the Petersville Hill area.