13:37:00
The Loch Lomond Villa is once again open to visitors after lifting the ban due to several cases of influenza.
Director of Care Terry Lee Martin says visitors are permitted, but if they are feeling unwell they should wait until they are better before stopping in.
The ban has been in place since March 13th.
2009-03-23:
11:19:23:
The former East Saint John School continues to undergo a transformation. The building is being converted into new office space for Irving Oil. Spokes-person Jennifer Parker tells CHSJ News, due to the cold weather, work was halted for a few weeks but has resumed. The space is still needed regardless of whether or not the company is granted approval to build a new office tower on Long Wharf.
Parker says if everything stays on schedule, the building should be open by the end of the summer.
2009-03-23:
11:17:06:
The Quality of Life Initiative will hold the latest in it's series of public meetings tonight. They continue to protest the proposal by Corridor Resources who want to drill into salt beds, flush them out and make caverns to store natural gas to pipe in through the Penobsquis field and onto the United States. Spokes-person Otty Forgrave tells CHSJ News, there is a possibility other products could be piped in to the same holding area.
Tonight's public meeting gets started at 7:30pm at the Upham Rec Center on the Titusville Road.
2009-03-23:
11:16:04:
A city councilor is asking city staff to prepare and advertise a business improvement levy for the west side. Bill Farren tells CHSJ News, the recommendation to complete the levy was made last year and the West Side Business Association has asked him to intervene in finding out it's progress. Farren says he wants city staff create and advertise for a public hearing to create a business improvement area on the west side over the next 5 days.
Farren says he hopes progress is made soon.
2009-03-23:
11:14:51:
Business partners Irving Oil and British Petroleum are still deciding whether to go ahead with the construction of a second oil refinery in Saint John. Gordon Dalzell with the Clean Air Coalition tells CHSJ news if environmental concerns won't deter them, maybe the economy will in North-Eastern United States where the oil would be shipped.
Dalzell says the existing refinery emits about 35 pollutants into the city's air--and-- a second refinery would further impact the health of Saint Johner's for generations to come.
2009-03-23:
11:13:29:
The latest stats from the RCMP say drug seizures involving methamphetamine are on the rise. Officers say of particular concern is that in a number of cases, what people are buying as “Ecstasy” is in fact primarily methamphetamine. As a result, some people have unknowingly become addicted and have had to seek treatment.
Even though police are seeing more cases involving meth, abuse of the drug is not prevalent in most of the province, with the exception of communities in the Edmunston area. Reports from the Northwest of the province indicate an increase in methamphetamine addiction in the area.
2009-03-23
10:56:38
(Gagetown ferry is one of three being cut as of Friday - photo courtesy DOT)
There's a bright spot coming out of the provincial government's decision to axe the Belleisle - Gagetown - and - Hampstead ferry services.
Transportation Department spokesman Andrew Holland confirms to CHSJ News 11 of the 15 ferry workers have been offered jobs on other river ferries.
And Holland says the Human Resources branch is working with the other 4 to secure employment for them.
The three ferries will stop plying the waters as of Friday as part of the Graham government's cost cutting measures.
2009-03-23:
04:28:42:
You can have your say, again, on poverty in the province. The New Brunswick Poverty Reduction Initiative is returning to host an additional dialogue session tonight at the Somerset Community Center. The session will run between 6:30 until 9:30pm. The first session held in Saint John back in January saw over 100 participants.
To participate, you must register by calling 1-888-315-6606 and for more info or to participate online, you can go to gnb.ca
2009-03-23:
04:27:38:
Ever wonder when motions get followed through with after being passed at Common Council? Well so does Councillor Gary Sullivan. Sullivan tells CHSJ News, a better line of communications need to be made to find out the progress of motions passed in the chamber:
Sullivan says some motions should be passed very quickly, such as forming the committee concerning the public inquiry on the pension plan. Common Council is meeting tonight in their chamber at 7 o'clock.
2009-03-23:
04:26:44:
A foul stench in an East Saint John apartment drove people from their homes yesterday. Fire crews and the Haz-mat Unit were called to 80 Coldbrook Cresent just before noon to find elevated levels of hydrogen-sulphite.
Crews discovered the smell was coming from the septic system where one of the traps was not working causing the odor to linger in the building. A plumber was called in to fix the problem and everyone was allowed back into the building a few hours later.
2009-03-23:
04:25:41:
They say if March comes in like a lion.....she will roll out like a lamb but today's weather forecast could throw a wrench into that plan. Environment Canada is tracking a system that will kiss most of the province and leave us with close to 10cm's by tomorrow morning. Snow is expected to start falling late this afternoon and into this evening.
Nova Scotia will get the brunt of the action with most of that province expected to wake up tomorrow with anywhere between 15-25m's of snow. The full three-day forecast is coming right up.
2009-03-22
21:48:44
Saint John businesses and attractions are holding their own against others in Atlantic Canada in a recent poll by Progress magazine.
The business publication's survey of readers ranks Java Moose as the best in the east for your early morning caffeine fix beating out coffee shops in Halifax and Charlottetown.
Best cultural space goes to the Imperial Theater which beat out the Confederation Center of the Arts in Charlottetown and Neptune Theater in Halifax.
Handworks Gallery comes in as the best place in Atlantic Canada to buy staff thank you gifts.
And the best place to jog honors go to Harbor Passage which topped Point Pleasant Park in Halifax and Victoria Park in Charlottetown.
2009-03-22
21:45:51
The Energy and Utilities Board is set to begin a review of N-B Power's latest rate increase -- the utility plans to raise power rates by three percent on April Fool's day.
The review was ordered late last week by Energy Minister Jack Keir who says it's a matter of accountability and transparency.
Under current legislation -- N-B Power isn't required to apply for a rate increase is not more than three percent -- but -- Keir has power to ask the board to investigate the necessity for the rate change.
Saint John Energy has also announced it will pass along the three percent increase to its customers.
2009-03-22
21:41:17
The clock is now ticking for the 180-day public process to renew the air quality operating certificate for the Irving Oil refinery.
The process covers issues like emissions -- and -- pollution control equipment along with monitoring and reporting requirements.
You have until July 17th to submit any comments or concerns in writing to the provincial Environment Department.
You can find a link information on documentation and providing comments here: http://www.gnb.ca/0009/0355/0005/index-e.asp
2009-03-22
13:45:26
Stinky sewers may be the reason behind an evacuation in East Saint John this morning--- Fire officials are leaving the scene of an apartment building where they were investigating reports of a suspicious odour. They tell CHSJ News it looks as though the smell may be coming from the plumbing in the building and so the building owner has been instructed to get in touch with a plumber as soon as possible. Officials say the stench poses no danger to the residents of the Coburg Crescent building.
2009-03-22
10:33:55
More bad news for Kingston Peninsula residents -- Hampton-Kings Conservative M-L-A Bev Harrison says the Transportation Department is planning to close at least two government garages in the riding.
Harrison says the closures are part of the cuts contained in last week's provincial budget -- and -- that's going to mean even less maintenance for local roads which are already in rough shape:
Residents are already battling Transportation Minister Denis Landry over plans to eliminate river ferries in Belleisle Bay - Gagetown - and - Hampstead.
2009-03-22
10:30:00
Next month marks the 10 year anniversary of the Saint John Police Force Auxiliary Unit and the call is out for any new recruits. Since it's inception the volunteer unit has given over 36 thousand hours to the police force. Mayor Ivan Court tells CHSJ News, the amount of hours donated by residents is incredible.
The auxiliary unit mainly helps out on the weekends, and for special events such as parades. Chief Bill Reid says the dedication of the volunteers is amazing, and that many eventually graduate to becoming official police officers. The unit is holding a recruitment drive and anyone interested is urged to contact the police department.
2009-03-22
10:28:09
Women from all ages with gather at the Delta this Friday to celebrate the 5th annual Womens Wellness Conference. It began 12 years ago as the Saint John Womens Conference, set aside to access information contributing to health, well-being and self development. Spokes-person Kim Houlahan tells CHSJ News, the keynote speaker is Josey Vogels.
There are still seats available and you can register at www.sjwomenswellness.ca or call 631-0900.
2009-03-22
10:25:54
If you've driven across the Causeway this week and said to yourself......""Something looks different" you are absolutely right. The sign at the Irving Lube Plant has a new name. The sign now reads Coastal Blending and Packaging but the owner is still Irving Oil.
General Manager of the plant Kevin Boyle tells CHSJ News, the name change was put into place back on the first day of the new year and is there to open up the market so they can sell their other products.
2009-03-22
07:30:05
More bad news for Kingston Peninsula residents -- Hampton-Kings Conservative M-L-A Bev Harrison says the Transportation Department is planning to close at least two government garages in the riding.
Harrison says the closures are part of the cuts contained in last week's provincial budget -- and -- that's going to mean even less maintenance for local roads which are already in rough shape.
The veteran M-L-A says they would become nothing more than winter storage sheds and some residents are concerned it will lead to a reduction of plowing in the winter Residents are already battling Transportation Minister Denis Landry over plans to eliminate river ferries in Belleisle Bay - Gagetown - and - Hampstead -- they meet with the minister Tuesday.
