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Sunday, September 30, 2012

Historic West Side Church to Close

The bells toll for the last time today at St Jude's as a separate congregation...as of October 1, parishioners at the historic West Side church will join the nearby congregation at Saint George's Church.

Reverend Rob Salloum tells CHSJ news while it's sad to see the church close after over 100 years, it makes sense in the face of a declining church population  and both congregations need to look toward the future.

Saint George's final non-combined service will be held tonight.

Run For The Cure Today

Today is the 21rst annual Run for the Cure. The major breast cancer fundraiser kicks off at 1:30 this afternoon, and will also be a BBQ and events for the kids, weather permitting.

 Karen McCumber tells CHSJ News they're hoping to raise a lot of money in this big push: they have already raised close to $80,000 with the goal being $235,000.

Individuals can still come sign up to run 5k or walk 1k. For more information, click here

Major Crime Investigating Blaze on Winslow

Another abandoned building has been destroyed by fire: this time ,on the city's West Side. Fire crews responding to the call around 2:30 in the afternoon to reports of a fire at 158 Winslow Street.District Fire Chief Joe Armstrong tells CHSJ News the fire was already somewhat advanced by the time they arrived.

Smoke and fire were visible in the rear of the wooden building on both the first and second floors.

Crews performed an aggressive interior attack and managed to knock the fire down, but remained on the scene for over 3 hours. The blaze is under investigation by the city's Major Crime Unit.

Pot Seized After Truck Tips Over

Two men are in hot water after a car accident resulting in the seizure of several marijuana plants.

Police responded to a call around 6pm of an accident on the East side. When crews arrived, a pickup truck was tipped over on the median at the intersection of Barnesville Road and Loch Lomond Road.

After examining the scene police found a number of marijuana plants in the vehicle. A 31 year old and a 48 year old man will appear in court to face charges.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Saint John Sea Dogs Teaming Up With SPCA

The Saint John Sea Dogs will be unveiling their third jersey tonight at Harbour Station against Gatineau, but they will also be helping out the SPCA.

They're asking fans to bring donations for the animal shelter. They're in need of canned cat food, animal bedding pellets for cat litter, peanut butter, cheez whiz, cat collars, leashes, Martingale collars for dogs and high quality doggie treats.

Game time is at 7 o'clock tonight.

Over 50 Trucks & Cars At Long Wharf Today

A new event and fundraiser will be rolling into Saint John today.

"Touch A Truck" will feature over 50 trucks at Long Wharf today, and proceeds go towards First Steps Housing Project which helps young mothers.

First Step's Sharon Amirault tells CHSJ news kids will be able to climb in many of the vehicles, which range from antiques, to construction, and military. Amirault hopes to raise between $10,000-$20,000. 

Tickets are $5 which can be purchased at Harbour Station or at the event. Children under 2 are free. The vent is rain or shine and runs from 10:00-3:00 pm.

Test Drive & Help School Programs

You can take a car for a test drive and Ford will donate $20 for Samuel de Champlain school.

Called "Drive One 4 UR School" program, the fundraiser hopes to raise $6,000 to help pay for sports, arts and technology programming.


Ford sales manager David Brown tells CHSJ news there will be 15 vehicles to test drive at the school.


There will also be a car wash, BBQ and soccer tournament from 9 until 3 today.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Mortgage Fraudster Sentenced

49-year-old William Priest-Phillips of Nackawic was sentenced today (Friday) to three years in prison in connection with a mortgage fraud investigation.

William Priest-Phillips and his company, Priest Phillips Management Corp., were both charged with one count each of fraud over $5,000 and one count of uttering forged documents.

The 5-month long investigation was launched after police were tipped off by the New Brunswick Securities Commission, which led its own separate investigation into William Priest-Phillips's activities.

MP Elizabeth May Slams Harper's Economic Policy


Federal Green party Leader Elizabeth May levelling some harsh criticism at Stephen Harper, saying one way or another we're going to have to deal with the "fact" that unconventional natural gas from fracking has a higher carbon content and a bigger impact on greenhouse gases than conventional natural gas.  

May also slammed Harper for leaving Eastern Canadians reliant on foreign oil.

May, who recently participated in an anti-fracking rally in Fredericton, says the federal government needs to think of the future and make opportunities in the Maritimes so young people can stay here.

Bridge Traffic Returns To Normal Until The Spring


It's free wheeling for Harbour Bridge commuters in both directions -- construction crews started to remove pylons blocking one lane westbound Wednesday evening.
A Transportation Department spokesperson tells CHSJ News all lanes in both directions will remain open until some time next spring when work begins on the east bound lanes of the bridge.
Finishing work was carried out this year on the new cement barrier on the west bound lanes and under the bridge after the original contractor went bankrupt earlier this year.
The spokesperson tells us crews will work through the winter to prepare for the major overhaul of the eastbound lanes next year.
The original schedule called for the 35-million dollar make over to be completed in two years -- the Transportation Department remains confident that even though it took three years to complete the west bound lanes -- the work eastbound will be completed in one construction season.

Saint John Man With Brain Tumour Getting Help

The age of 42 is too young to be contemplating your own mortality but that's the situation facing  John Phillippe who is suffering from brain cancer and needs the drug Avastin to stay alive.

A benefit auction will be held tomorrow night at the Aquarius to help him out which Phillippe tells CHSJ News is overwhelming when you consider the number of peopkle coming together to make the effort to extend his life.

Avastin costs 10 thousand dollars or more a month to take but isn't covered in this province yet.   Premier David Alward is promising to bring in a catastrophic drug plan with the help of former Provincial Health Minister Dr. Dennis Furlong.

New Nature Preserve To Open

The Nature Trust of New Brunswick is getting a big gift from Connors Brothers and Clover Leaf Seafood. The company is donating a key piece of property to be used as a nature preserve. 

Nature Trust president Don Dennison tells CHSJ News it's a sizable chunk of land characterized by its rocky shoreline. There will be walking trails developed on the property down the road, says Dennsion, although the Nature Trust is encouraging visitors to simply enjoy the place in its natural state.

Connors also donated Wolf Island, 10km of the shore of Black's Harbour, to the Trust back in June. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site tomorrow from 1:30pm to 2pm.


Run For The Cure This Weekend

The 21rst annual Run for the Cure is gearing up for its big run this Sunday at Harbour Station. The breast cancer fundraiser kicks off at 1:30 and there will be a BBQ and events for the kids, weather permitting. 

Karen McCumber tells CHSJ News the fundraising efforts have made a big difference for a lot of women, with higher survival rates now than ever before.


It's not too late for individuals to sign up for the 5k run or 1k walk. For more information, click
here.

More Information To Be Released From Oland Warrants

More from the search warrants in the Richard Oland murder investigation will be released next week...Judge R. Leslie Jackson's written decision saying it's not legal to withhold information from the public just to give the police an advantage, but there has to be a specific and serious risk.

The names of people in the documents who are not suspects or subjects of the search warrants will be released--but there's still the same prohibition on the release of information that would only be known to the killer.

The new information will be released on October 5th.

Fire in Welsford Along Highway 7

Emergency crews clogging highway 7 in response to a house fire in Welsford....

Fire officials responding around 11:30am to reports of a residence on fire. 

Corporal Pat Cole tells CHSJ News emergency vehicles are- limiting access to the highway leading to wait times of 30 minutes to an hour.

Oland Case Back In Court This Morning

A judge is expected to rule today on whether we can see more information from search warrants in the Richard Oland murder investigation.

The prominent 69-year-old businessman was found slain in his office on July 7th last year. How he died has not been revealed. 

City Police insist the investigation remains open even though no one has been charged yet and recently were granted a new search warrant.

Last month, Provincial Court Judge Leslie Jackson allowed seven heavily censored search warrants to be made public along with related documents.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Ward's Creek Teen Pleads Guilty

Guilty pleas to all charges for a Ward's Creek teen after a crime spree through three counties involving stolen vehicles, break and enters and more.

It happened earlier this month when the Mounties learned of 5 vehicles reported stolen between the 11th and the 15th. 
All were left unlocked with keys inside.

A number of thefts from vehicles and break and enters around the same time.
The 16 year old is due in court in December for sentencing.

New Liquor Store Opens Tuesday


Rothesay gets its new liquor store on Tuesday.

The new store on Campbell Drive will replace two outlet stores.


The Landing Court location closes forever on Saturday night at 9 and the Superstore outlet closes permanently at 7 on Monday night.

Mysterious Object On Beach Identified

Experts from CFB Gagetown being called in to help deal with a suspicious object that washed up on a beach near Anthony's Cove Road in Red Head.

The metal cylinder washed up in the Anthony Cove Road area and was found by an older couple out for a walk. Sergeant Jay Henderson of city police tells CHSJ News it wasn't immediately clear what the object was, but it turned out to be a marine location market used to signal while at sea. The location marker produces smoke and flames, like a flare, and could cause burns.

The object was safely disposed of.

Shelagh Rogers Gives Talk On Depression

Long-time broadcaster Shelagh Rogers, host of "The Next Chapter," speaking this morning at a WorkSafe NB conference on workplace health and safety. Rogers, who has publicly struggled with depression, tells CHSJ News technology can contribute to a sense of isolation, particularly when you're not talking to anyone face to face anymore.
 

Rogers also emphasized proper sleep and exercise as preventative measures...but says social stigma is the biggest issue, and will only be removed by talking publicly about mental health issues.

City Police Looking For Missing Woman

Major Crime is looking for a 20 year old woman who's among the missing identified as Shelby Dawn Williams.

She was last seen at around midnight last Saturday and is known to hang around the Waterloo Street area.

Williams is described as being 5 feet 4 inches tall, about 110 lbs with a slim build, hazel eyes and shoulder length brown hair. Williams was last seen wearing a bright green coat.

If you know her whereabouts, you can contact the Saint John Police Force at (506) 648-3333 or (506)648-3211.



Cabinet Shuffle Aimed At Soothing Ruffled Saint John Feathers

Interim Provincial Liberal leader Victor Boudreau tells CHSJ News it's no coincidence Premier David Alward shuffled his cabinet after controversy over the ouster of Fundy River Valley M-L-A Dr. Jim Parrot from the Conservative caucus.

Boudreau claims it's going to take more than shuffling the deck to make things right with Saint John where there is still anger over the appointment of former Rothesay M-L-A Margaret Ann Blaney as C-E-O of Efficiency NB without holding a job competition.


Boudreau wouldn't be surprised if the new Ministry of Healthy and Inclusive Communities was created just to get another Saint John M-L-A into the cabinet, in this case, Saint John Lancaster M-L-A Dorothy Shepherd.

Saint John area members will hold two of the most powerful portfolios with Qusipamsis M-L-A Blaine Higgs at Finance and Rothesay M-L-A Ted Flemming at Health.



Bus Window Smashed

A rock was thrown at a City Transit bus on the west side breaking a window in the Churchill Heights area on Central Avenue.

This type of vandalism happens about 5 or six times a year but Saint John Transit General Manager Frank McCarey tells CHSJ News even more damage is done to bus shelters and when plexiglass was used, there were people who would actually try to burn it with lighters. Tempered glass is now used.

McCarey says it costs anywhere from 350 to 400 dollars to replace a bus window which shatters into little pebbles when smashed. Vandalism costs the bus service an estimated 10 thousand dollars annually.

Potential Explosive Washed Up On Beach

A device believed to be military in nature has washed up on a beach on the east side on Anthony's Cove Road. An older couple were walking on the beach when they came along a cylindrical metal object that appeared to be a missile or marine flare.

A source from CFB Gagetown tells CHSJ News an explosive ordinance disposal team has been dispatched to provide assistance to the SJ Police Force.

Saint John Area Now Has Four Provincial Cabinet Ministers

Premier David Alward has shuffled his cabinet and increased the number of ministers to 17 with four of them from the Saint John area. 

He has appointed four backbenchers to Health, Post-Secondary Education, Human Resources and the newly created Department of Healthy and Inclusive Communities. 

The Premier says recently elected member Ted Flemming in Rothesay is a good choice for Health. Flemming has called himself an ally of Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs who believes the healthcare system could be made far more efficient.
 
Saint John Lancaster M-L-A Dorothy Shepherd is the Minister of Healthy and Inclusive Communities. 


Quispamsis M-L-A Blaine Higgs remains Finance Minister and Trevor Holder, the M-L-A for Saint John Portland, stays as Minister of Tourism and Culture.

The New Democrats and the Liberals charge Alward has broken another election promise by increasing the number of ministers from 15. He replies to thast by pointing out the number is still less than the previous Liberal Government under Shawn Graham had.
   

Power Lines Ignite

The high winds causing a problem last night around 10 on Westbrook Avenue when tree branches were blown onto power lines and caught fire. 

The area was cordoned off, the power was cut by Saint John Energy and the tree branches were trimmed back.

Gas Prices Down Across The Board

A fairly large drop in the price of self serve regular after the weekly setting. In the city, it has gone down from $1.34.9 a litre to $1.31.4.

Diesel is also cheaper at $1.33.4, which is a couple of cents less expensive. 

Heating oil has also gone down a couple of cents to a maximum price of $1.17.1 a litre and propane is at a max of 94.3 cents, which is down a bit as well.

Famed Provincial Furniture Retailer Opens In Saint John

A company founded in Newcastle in 1878 is now operating in Saint John.

Lounsbury recently opened a store in the City on Rothesay Avenue.

Jill Sadler of Lounsbury's tells CHSJ News they are often asked about further expansion plans beyond the cities like Moncton and Sussex where they operate now.

She says growth is goal so they are going to get Saint John under their belt and see what happens from there.

The company also owns several auto dealerships and heavy truck companies and it dates back to selling farm equipment and clothing.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

City Has New Dog Control By-Law

If you're being bothered by aggressive strays or neighbours who don't know the meaning of the term "poop and scoop", you're in luck: the city has finalized a new dog control by-law that will give you more convenient hours to call in complaints, among other changes.

Amy Poffenroth telling common council the fines for dog-control by-law violations are going up for as much as $2100. Previously, the maximum fine was $500.

Although the city will no longer respond to calls about stray cats, stray dogs will now be impounded for 72 rather than 48 hours. For a link to the full version of the dog-control by-law, click here

Changes To St. George Liquor Store Angers MLA

The people of St. George will be left high and dry...literally.

NB Liquor announcing it will replace two corporate owned stores in the province with privately owned agency stores and staff members will be moved elsewhere.

NB Liquor president Daniel Allain says the corporate stores in St. George and Florenceville-Bristol are no longer efficient and each are more than 50 years old.

Liberal MLA Rick Doucet says that's not what he thought.

He says this store was slated for renovation when he was in government so this news is a slap in the face.

Doucet says from what he understands the agency stores mean 7 jobs in St. George will be lost locally and residents will be left with about 1/8 of the selection of booze.

Irving Releases Statement on Explosion

Irving Oil has released the following statement to CHSJ News:


"At approximately 11:52am (Local Time) today, during scheduled hydrogen plant turnaround work at the Refinery, a carbonate tank undergoing maintenance work was over-pressurized.

An employee suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

No further damage was sustained as a result of the over-pressurized tank. At 12:40pm, the Refinery issued the all-clear to resume normal operations.

Due to the planned turnaround work taking place, we do not anticipate any production impacts."

Traffic Calming Debated For Douglas Ave

Heritage home-lined Douglas Avenue has turned into a drag strip, according to one local resident. Moran Lannigan says he'd like to see traffic calming measures like curb bulbs and new signage.
 Councillor Donnie Snook disagreed, saying traffic patterns on the West Side wouldn't make any sense at all if it weren't for the flow on Douglas Avenue.

Speeding is currently an issue on Douglas Avenue, but council pointed out there are 100 requests to council to investigate traffic calming in neighbourhoods throughout the city.

Explosion in Small Tank At Refinery

According to a report to the fire deparment, a explosion occured this morning in a small tank at the Irving Oil Refinery.

One person was injured but everyone else has been accounted for. According to fire officials there's no further risk.

Changes Can Still Be Made To Plan SJ

Developers and realtors raising some questions about Plan SJ which will serve as the roadmap for future development in the city for the next 20 to 25 years.

They have been told by the city nothing is etched in stone. 

Realtor Hodges Hamm tells CHSJ News he can see why the city wants more development closer to the urban core but it's a lot more expensive to build.

Hamm warns if the zoning regulations are too tight, many people, who want a more rural type lifestyle, might choose to live in the outlying communities when the city needs a bigger tax base.


Having said that, Hamm says people who build on the outskirts should not expect city services if they're too far out.

The city wants Plan SJ to be adopted by July of next year. Hamm would like to see it reviewed every few years.

Reports Of An Explosion At The Irving Oil Refinery


We are hearing reports of an explosion at the Irving Oil refinery.
 

One person is injured.  Police, Ambulance and Fire are on scene. One man was taken from the refinery to hospital in an ambulance.

We have contacted Irving Oil for more information.


Anne Hickey of Champlain Heights tell CHSJ News she heard a whistle blow around 11:45 in the morning and her house shook. 


Ideas To Keep Youth Here From Liberal Candidate

Provincial Liberal leadership candidate Mike Murphy pointing out ways to keep our youth in the province and help their education.

Murphy tells CHSJ news he'd like to implement a program called "New Brunswick First", which would offer tax credits for business who hire our youth.


Murphy adds he'd also advocate lower or no interest on student loans, remove the parental contribution rule and create a youth investment bank to help with loans. He says it's hard to ask young people to stay here in the province when we don't even invest in ourselves.

The liberal leadership election will be held next month.

Pension Plan Deficit Increases

The city's pension plan deficit is rising and will be above the 193 million dollars it was at last count, likely exceeding 200 million dollars. 

Common Councillor Bill Farren tells CHSJ News the city is in bad shape because of the pension plan and change will have to happen. What that change will be, no one knows. 

The city has been examining the shared risk model but what that stands in light of the rising deficit, Farren didn't want to speculate on.
 

Farren does concede taxpayers are fed up with this and have been for some time.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Listeners Weigh In on Skateboard Law

Our listeners offering their thoughts via social media on a newly-minded bylaw. "Josh's Law" was passed last night and stipulates that skateboarders in Saint John wear helmets.

Beca Steeves says "This is the most stupid thing since they made helmets mandatory for bike riders! All it is doing is teaching kids not to have common sense! Grow up people and stop making laws to protect idiots."

According to Wendy & Dwayne Lindsay "It's the parents that are going to get stuck paying the fine for the underage skaters.The citypPolice have enough on their plates with real crime."

While Murray Goguen has a theory: "The Government wants money 'cause they wasted over 5.2 million dollars on an oversized police station we don't even need."

Skateboarder Andre Veinot argues "Skateboarders fall down a dozen times a day. We are very good at it. 90% of falls do not even hurt. Falling becomes just as much of a skill as landing the tricks themselves."

But Eric Bailey says: " You think you have the right to not wear it....but I wish I had the right to not pay into healthcare for acts of Darwinism."'

The by-law is named Josh's Law after a local teen who sustained a major brain injury while skating without a helmet.


NICU Receives New Equipment Thanks To Donation

The Saint John Regional Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit getting a big boost from Canaport LNG.

The company donated $65,000 to buy top-notch equipment for the facility.

Dr. Luis Monterossa tells us the equipment is sophisticated and will make both the babies and parents more comfortable during a stressful time.


The donation will purchase a respiratory device which is less aggressive on the babies, an on-site micro sampling methods chemical and metabolic device, a newborn symposium and a new audiovisual family library material. The family library material will help parents cope by offering e-readers to pass time and a video conference and multipurpose room so they can share and connect with parents going through the same experience from across the globe.

Canaport LNG GM Adolfo José Azcárraga Gomis say the decision to support the NICU was an easy one, and it was Dr. Monterossa who approached him.

The NICU is one of three units that cares for sick or premature babies from across the province.

Big Day For Ships In SJ

The Port City living up to its name today with the Carribean Princess, The Brilliance of the Seas, and the Queen Mary 2 (pictured) in Port.

The ships are carrying 3100, 2100, and 2500 passengers respectively.

Car Dealerships Ripped Off

It's a wake-up call for businesses who take credit card numbers over the phone...a car dealership has been hit with a double-whammy after a scam.

According to police, a car dealership received a call from someone looking to buy a vehicle over the phone with a fake name and stolen credit card information. When the card holder reported the fraud, the dealership both lost the vehicle and had to pay back both the cost of the transaction to the bank.

The vehicles were traced to ports in Halifax and Toronto where they were being shipped overseas. Police are urging merchants to exercise extreme caution when it comes to credit card information whose owner can't be identified.

Teen Faces Charges For Multiple Vehicle Thefts

A teenager from Wards Creek is scheduled to re-appear in Hampton Provincial Court later this month to face an additional 22 charges for a rash of car thefts and thefts from vehicles.

Five vehicles in Charlotte, Kings and Saint John Counties were reported stolen between September 11-15. There were also a number of thefts from vehicles and break and enters around the same time. It's believed the teen was stealing cars in order to travel around committing more thefts.

All of the vehicles had their doors unlocked and keys inside, say Corporal Pat Cole--which should be a lesson to drivers.

Where Oh Where Is The Marco Polo?

Enquiring minds want to know....... Where is the Marco Polo replica tall ship and where will it be docked along the waterfront?

Marco Polo organiser Barry Ogden tells CHSJ News all the work is pretty much done......All that awaits is a permanent home and he remains hopeful about finding a place as meetings continue. In the meantime, the ship remains wrapped up in storage on the west side.

Ogden believes it would be a great asset for tourism in the city and be the lift Saint John needs.   He also reveals the Marco Polo website has attacted 600 thousand hits and he gets asked about it everyday.

Dr. Jim Parrot Says He Remains A Tory

The independent M-L-A for Fundy River Valley, Dr. Jim Parrot says he wouldn't join the Liberals even if they called him and will remain a Tory until they throw dirt on him.

Dr. Parrot tells CHSJ News he was told of his expulsion from the Conservative caucus by the Premier over the phone and as for the reaction he's getting, it's been overwhelming which indicates a large number of people are getting fed up with a government that doesn't listen.

Dr. Parrot denies the Premier's accusations of taking cheap shots at the government and not speaking up about healthcare vowing he will continue to make his views known publicly.

New Skateboarding By-Law Passed

Helmets are the wave of the future at your local skate park, with common council voting last night to make helmets mandatory just as they are for cyclists. 

The city's previous skateboard law hadn't been changed for 50 years, according to city solicitor John Nugent, which makes you think about how long skateboards and the issues associated with them have been around.

Councillor Greg Norton tells CHSJ News the bill is called "Josh's Law," after local teen Josh Dylan who sustained a horrific brain injury while riding without a helmet.

Councillor John Mackenzie says he hopes the city will work with community groups to provide helmets to disadvantaged kids.

City Reaches New Agreement With SPCA

Bigger fines for animal by-law violations, "poop and scoop" laws, and education on responsible pet ownership are just some provisions of the city's new service agreement with the SPCA. Amy Poffenroth says while ideally every animal would be cared for, stray cats that are severely diseased or hurt will not suffer needlessly under the new agreement, but rather be humanely euthanized where needed.

But Councillor Ray Strowbridge tells CHSJ News it's not clear how the new bylaws would be enforced, saying the municipality can't give its by-law enforcement officers that kind of power.Poffenroth says it will be necessary to iron out some details. 


Common council also agreed to provide a grant of $18,000 to the SPCA after it tears down its dilapidated buildings on Taylor Avenue.

Motorcyclist Hospitalised After West Side Collision

Two separate collisions on the west side last night are being investigated by City Police. 

The first one was between a car anda motorcycle on Bridge Street West by the pulp mill. The 60 year old motorcyclist is in serious but stable condition at hospital. 

A half an hour or so after that one, there was another collision on the west side along Manawagonish Road at Mahogany Island Court. One person was sent to hospital for observation.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Rough Waters Diverts Cruise Ship Our Way

The Emerald Princess, one of the three cruise ships in port today, wasn't originally suppose to come to Saint John... or even Canada.

According to various passengers, the cruise ship was originally heading to Greenland when they encountered rough waters and forty-five mile winds.. which would make landing in Greenland a big problem. So the cruise ship headed to Newfoundland before landing here. The ship started in Copenhagen, traveled around the Baltic and Europe before arriving in the Maritimes.

The passengers from across the US and even Australia say since they left Iceland they've encountered foggy and "yucky" weather, so today couldn't be more perfect.


Crystal Symphony In Port Today


The ship is one of three cruise ships in the City today.   

Uptown Saint John will be busy again tomorrow with many extra visitors as three ships are due in port tomorrow.

Help For Those Affected By Sussex Fire

A Rothesay businessman wants to raise from 10 to $20,000 for the families who lost everything in the recent fire which destroyed two historical buildings in downtown Sussex. 

Darryl Campbell of Just Seafood on Hampton Road is originally from Sussex. He says with school starting a lot of the kids have lost everything and would like them to give them back a sense of home before Christmas arrives.

He's setting up a jar in his store for people to make donations and on the 29th, there will be a truck and 15 foot open trailer for people to donate all their refundable bottles.