Visitors allowed again at Loch Lomond Villa

Visitor restrictions have been lifted at the Loch Lomond Villa that were put in place because of the Norwalk virus.
CEO Cindy Donovan tells CHSJ news visiting is now permitted but, if visitors are not feeling then they are discouraged from visiting.
All visitors are encouraged to use hand sanitizers when entering the complex.

Attempted Pin Pad Theft in Quispamsis

Rothesay Regional Police have arrested three Montreal men after they attempted to steal a pin pad from a business.

The business called police as the result of a province-wide alert.


Officers responded at 4 this morning and the men were in a late model rental car on Highway 119 in Quispamsis.
All three were before a judge in Hampton today charged with attempting to commit the idictable offense of theft.


The men will remain in custody until bail hearing on Thursday morning in Sussex.
Police tell us similar complaints are being investigated in other areas and more charges are expected.

A New Face at Saint John Destination Marketing

The former General Manager of Waterfront Development has found a new home at City Hall. Ross Jefferson is the new executive director of Saint John Destination Marketing. How-ever, there is some confusion over the new position. It was just last year in January, that Gail Bremner accepted the job as Executive Director of Saint John Destination Marketing Orginization.


We have a call into the City Hall Communications department looking for clarification.

Lottery Winner Claims His Prize

For the second time in three weeks, a lotto winner is from Saint John. Steve Hannerhan made the trek to Moncton today to pick up his cheque for one million dollars after winning the Atlantic 49 draw on Saturday. Currently working as a health-care professional, Hannerhan says he bought the winning ticket at the Superstore on Rothesay Avenue.


Hannerhan says he and his wife Karen still don't have any major plans for their new found cash and doesn't plan to retire. Atlantic Lotto still hasn't revealed the identity of a man on the West-Side that had a multi-million dollar winning ticket last month.

Big Plans for Highway One

                      (Premier Shawn Graham)
                              (File Photo)

Dexter Construction has been chosen by the province to be in charge of twinning the rest of Highway One from Saint John to St. Stephen, all 55 kilometers which will also include more than 100 kilometers of wildlife fencing. The final agreements on the privatised deal still have to be negotiated. Premier Shawn Graham also announcing upgrades will be done in the Saint John area itself.
Construction begins this summer with completion set for the end of July in 2013. Dexter will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the highway from St. Stephen to River Glade until 2040.

Rothesay MLA Taking Heat over Assessments

(Rothesay Conservative MLA Margaret Ann Blaney)
                      (File Photo)

Home-owners in Rothesay continue to vent their frustration over this years property assessments. MLA Margaret Ann Blaney tells CHSJ News, she has been swamped with calls since letters starting arriving at homes last week and the problem should have been dealt with by the Graham Government last year.
Blaney adds one of the home-owners in her riding, who live in a very modest home, had their assessment increase by 118% from last year.

Quispamsis Mayor Talks About Property Assessments

(Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll)
               (File Photo)

The provincial government is blaming municipalities in large part for the big increases in property bills that homeowners are angry about. Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll points out the tax rate in his town has been going down.


Driscoll also says the real estate market in Quispamsis has been hot with rising prices and that is a factor in higher property assessments.

Robbery and Fire

It was a busy weekend for Sussex RCMP. It was just before two this morning when officers were called to a business on Park Street for a break and enter. A thief or thieves got into the building through the roof and managed to get a safe full of cash out of the business. Officers are going over the surveillance tapes for clues.




Also, the search is on for someone who likes to play with matches. Officers were called to Hatfields Point Saturday night to find a fishing shack on Bellisle Bay on fire. An ATV was spotted driving away from the shack with it's lights off but fire crews were able to save the ice fishing home. Close to $150 dollars in damage was done.

Cigarettes Stolen in St. Martins

A store in St. Martins is shy plenty of smokes today.


Hampton RCMP tell us someone broke into the Huttges General Store after midnight and got away with close to $2000 dollars worth of cigarettes.

Attempted Holdup Under Investigation

Two youths are behind bars after what City Police describe as an attempted robbery last night on Paddock Street. Police believe a weapon was used but the intended victim wasn't injured.

Costco Job Fair Ends

(Job Fair At Costco)

(File Photo)

One thousand people were interviewed at Costco's three day job fair which ended yesterday afternoon. Costco's Director of Human Resources for Atlantic Canada, Tracy Knocker estimates close to 2 thousand people showed up but not everyone was able to be interviewed one on one. Now the hard part starts........Who to choose? Costco is hoping to have its hiring complete in the next 2 to 3 weeks. The lucky ones will be starting work in early May. The store's official opening is scheduled for May 27th.
There are about 100 jobs to be filled.

On The Vine Setting Up Shop In The K-V

The former Brookside Market is getting a second lease on life. In what might be the worst kept secret in the Kennebecasis Valley, On the Vine is setting up shop along the Old Hampton Road in Rothesay. Owner Sean Fillmore tells CHSJ News  they have been eyeing this location since the property became available.

This is the second attempt for On the Vine in Rothesay after a short stint near the entrance to K-Park with a store a few years ago. Fillmore says he will hire over 30 employees for now and hope to have the store open by the end of this month with renovations on-going. This new location is owned by Fillmore and his wife Mandy.  

International Women's Day Being Marked

Over 100 years since the first International Women's Day and thye Canadian Union of Public Employees thinks women in this province are still fighting for equality. Maureen Michaud of CUPE tells CHSJ News the federal government is stifling the progress of women. She cites the failure of Ottawa to establish national childcare. CUPE also takes issue with the Provincial Pay Equity Act which comes into force on April 1st but covers public sector workers only. Michaud adds CUPE believes a number of challenges face women this year including the continuing promotion of privatization which the union charges is an attack on women and other equality-seeking groups.

Tuition Rebate Program Reminder

Recent university or college graduates looking for some extra cash this tax season are being reminded to apply for the provincial tuition rebate program.

Eligible applicants could receive up to $20 thousand dollars in rebates over 20 years, with the maximum rebate being $4 thousand dollars a year.
The amount received equals the amount of provincial tax payable on your tax return.
To qualify for the program you must have paid tuition at a post secondary education institution after January 1st, 2005, live in New Brunswick, file an income tax return, and be a graduate.

Last Chance to Attend Costco Job Fair

[Costco at Eastpoint Shopping----Photo by Jim Hennessy]

Just a heads up for anyone thinking they may have missed the job fair at Costco.
Today is your last chance to hand in your resume, or fill out an application at the store in East Saint John.
Regional Operations Vice President Gary Swindells says the store plans to hire nearly 100 people.
The fair runs today until 3 o'clock, and is pegged to open it's doors on May 27th.

More Government Money Needed to Continue Improving Water System

Since the year 2000, the city has spent more than 60 million dollars on improving the water system in Saint John. The head of Municipal Operations, Paul Groody says there's still alot more to be done.
Groody concedes for the job of bringing Saint John's water system up to be brought up to where everyone wants it to be, the federal and provincial governments will have to help out with fuunding.

Saint John Animal Rescue League Future

The Saint John Animal Rescue League will be building a new home for their animals at the old Peacock's garden centre.

The local shelter owns 17 acres at the site and has already torn down the greenhouses.
Outgoing Executive Director Janet Foster tells CHSJ News that it's perfect location.
No word yet on when shovels will go in the group since, the Rescue League needs to mount a capital campaign to raise the expected $3 million dollars required for the new location.

Childhood Obesity Rates Rising

There's a connection between the demise of the family sitting down together to eat and a tripling over the last 25 years of childhood obesity. So claims registered Dietitian Nadine Day, who's with Loblaw. She tells CHSJ News there's a way parents can get their children more enthused about the traditional family dinner.

Day says another aspect of that is to get children to help selecting food items in the supermarket.

Surveillance Video Released Of Missing Woman In Moncton

The R-C-M-P in Moncton say they have received more than 200 tips from the public about the disappearance of Donna O'Rielly.
The 54-year-old woman was last seen leaving her job at the Highfield Square shopping centre a week ago last night.
The Mounties released surveillance video of her leaving the mall. She never did make it to her car in the mall parking lot.
Police say O'Rielly, who is originally from Newfoundland and Labrador, did not suffer from any medical condition and they have not ruled out an abduction.

Anger Over Increase In Property Assessments

Outrage is being expressed by many homeowners after they got their property tax bills in the mail this week. The provincial government's attempt to get municipalities to keep tax rates stable for property owners has apparently failed miserably.
In November, the province encouraged municipalities to stop introducing property tax increases that were significantly higher than inflation. It created the Property Tax Assessment Mechanism to address rapidly rising tax bills.
Finance Minister Greg Byrne finds it disappointing only five of the 83 municipalities in the province where a reduction was recommended did so.
Eighteen communities weren't encouraged to take action because there was little change in the market value of properties.