Wireless Amber Alerts

Canada's Amber Alert system is hoping to reach millions of cellphone users by going wireless


The country's cellphone industry is joining with the RCMP and other police forces to offer free Amber Alerts to most wireless phone users. The alerts, which are issued to the public after a reported child abduction, will be sent as text messages to those who sign up for the service. 12 Canadian wireless providers are taking part so far.
 
To sign up:   go to http://www.wirelessamber.ca/

Canadian Blood Services C.O.O. in Saint John.

(Canadian Blood Services in Millidgeville)

A non-partisan Task Force Report released by the Province on the future of Canadian Blood Services recommended the service be enhanced not reduced.
The blood distribution centre in Millidgeville will relocate to Dartmouth in two years.


Ian Mumford, Chief Operating Officer for Canadian Blood Services tells CHSJ News that they made some changes to their plan.

He says an inventory of blood product will remain in Saint John and apharisees platelet collection will continue here as well.

The move is coming in 2012 and will impact 17 jobs in Saint John.
Mumford says they want to work those employees to help them find other jobs at CBS or in a hospital or assist them in retraining to add new skills.

Temporary Aquarium Now Open in St. Andrews

(Huntsman Marine Science Centre)

(submitted photo)

The Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews has a temporary aquarium, with harbour seals Loki and Snorkel as well as lobsters, sturgeon, a touch pool and tanks on the same site for the public to visit.

The old aquarium was torn down to make way for the new discovery centre.


The temporary aquarium is now open daily until September. Seal feedings still take place at 11am and 4pm and there will be a Meet the Lobsters event every day at 1pm. There is also a display on the new discovery centre and a gift shop on site.

A public birthday party for Snorkel the Seal and World Ocean Day celebrations are both coming up next month.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors.
For more information or to book tours call (506) 529-1200.

New study shows high level of contraband cigarettes

(The Atlantic Convenience Stores Association speaks about contraband cigarettes)
(Photo By Sherry Aske)

The Atlantic Convenience Stores Association says the problem of contraband cigarettes is steamrolling itself across Atlantic Canada.

A new study that looked at the level of contraband cigarettes in 43 Atlantic Canada locations showed that the amount of illegal cigarettes is close to 20%.

Association President Mike Hammoud says they hope to bring that number down to 10% so that the illegal market cannot exist.

The study included four Saint John locations, and Hammoud says he was quite pleased that two local high schools had relatively low contraband rates.

St. Malachy's High came in with 14% of illegal cigarettes, and Saint John High only had 6.1%.

Lily Lake Receives Provincial Cash

(Lily Lake Pavilion)
    (File Photo)

$200,000 to establish an endowment fund for Lily Lake at Rockwood Park from the Provincial Government.
The funding is from the Regional Development Corporation and will be used to sustain and improve the physical infrastructure of the Pavilion.
With the improvements to Rockwood Park, the pavilion is being revitalized will be available for tourists staying at the Rockwood Park campground, cruise ship passengers and the local community.

Liberals Choose Candidate To Run In East Saint John

It was a landslide vote last night that won Kevin McCarville the Liberal Nomination for the riding of Saint John East. McCarville beat out John O'Kane and Common Councillor Bruce Court on the first ballot by withg 182 of the 324 cast votes. McCarville, who wants to take over from longtime M-L-A Roly McIntyre who has retired and concedes he's got big shoes to fill but is ready for the challenge.
Locally, he says he hopes to improve the environment in East Saint John and secure more jobs. The Conservatives in the riding earlier chose former Fire Chief and Common Councillor Glen Tait as their candidate.

Harbour Passage To Remain Closed

(Harbour Bridge)
   (File Photo)

There is no way Harbour Passage can remain open while the repairs are being made to the Harbour Bridge. The city's rep on the Harbour Bridge Authority, Chris Titus warns there's a danger people could be struck by chunks of concrete weighing between 6 thousand and 8 thousand pounds. Titus goes on to say each portion of the bridge will be subjected to what is called hydro-demolition with the existing concrete being blasted by high pressure water. He likens it to sandblasting. Titus says the outer third and side of the bridge will be demolished completely and replaced with new concrete.

City Hall To Be Reformed Over The Next Two Years

(Common Councillor Peter McGuire)
             (File Photo)

City Hall will be changing the way it does business over the next two years. City Manager Pat Woods is promising a series of reforms will be implemented to make the city more efficient and place it on a sound financial footing by 2012. Common Councillor Peter McGuire wants to see economic development done better and one person to be in charge of interacting with the other two levels of government so the cityh doesn't lose out on much needed grant money from Ottawa and Fredericton.
Woods says he will be presenting Council with a plan to fix the deficit laden municipal pension plan by the beginning of September.

Common Council Hears How Much It Will Cost To Reduce Flooding In Glen Falls

(Common Council in session)
          (File Photo)

Its going to cost anywhere from 48 to 91 million dollars over the next 25 years to reduce the flooding in Glen Falls. It will now be up to Common Council to decide whether it's worth it to spend that much money. The head of Municipal Operations, Paul Groody concedes there will always be flooding there. The storm diversion system consists of a network of pipes that would divert storm water during especially heavy downpours and runoffs to Drury Cove and the Kennebecasis River.
There will be a ward meeting in Glen Falls next month to hear what the residents have to say. There are an estimated 70 to 80 homes in Glen Falls which get flooded continually.

Local rink celebrates 50 years in September

A big celebration is coming up this September when the LBR celebrates fifty years.
The hockey teams, cheer leading groups and many other groups that use the arena will take part.
Malcolm Wickens, who has worked at the famed Saint John rink for 40 years tells CHSJ News there will lots of activities on September 18th and 19th.
The LBR's 50th anniversary celebrations will include St. Mary's Band who performed at the opening ceremonies for the arena. A dedication church service will also be held as part of the festivities.

Compensation rates go up for victims of violent crimes

(Public Safety Minister John Foran)
(File Photo)

Victims of violent crimes are getting a break from the provincial government.

Public Safety Minister John Foran announced today that compensation rates for counselling, medication, eye wear, transportation, relocation expenses and funeral expenses will all be increased.

The maximum amount of compensation a victim can get is going from $5,000 to $10,000.
 
Foran says the changes go into effect June 1st.

Local mom stands up against bullying

(People gather in King's Square for Bullying Rally)
(Photo By Sherry Aske)

A parade of people are standing up against bullying in schools.

Shelly Smith held a bullying rally in Kings Square today because her child was bullied in school.

She says there needs to be tougher punishments in schools and more legislation against bullying.

Councillor Donnie Snook was on hand saying bullying is happening more and more online.

He says part of the solution is talking with those who do the bullying as they need help as well.

Childhood Obesity To Be Discussed At Common Council

(Common Councillor Donnie Snook)
              (File Photo)

Childhood obesity is one of the items that will come before Common Council tonight. Councillor Donnie Snook maintains the city should become more actively involved through its community centres with encouraging young people to be more physicaly active and spend less time just sitting in front of a computer playing video games.
Snook quotes from a recently report which concludes young people in the province are dangerously physically inactive and he will also be calling on the community centres to provide healthier snacks instead of junk food. Council will also be hearing about the Crescent Valley Redevelopment Initiative and West Side Councillor Peter McGuire wants to talk about the business corridor along Fairville Boulevard.

No Plans In Works For Ban On Cellphone Use While Driving

               (Premier Shawn Graham)
                       (File Photo)

The Province has no official plan to put in place a ban on the use of a cell phones while driving like Nova Scotia already did. The Premier thinks New Brunswickers should not be putting themselves or others at risk by being distracted behind the wheel. Shawn Graham says the province is trying to educate drivers about the dangers of texting & talking while driving. He says that's why his government has partnered with the Insurance Bureau of Canada to create awareness about driver distraction.The Premier says it takes time to change people's minds using the example of smoking and young people saying it took their parents quitting to make them think differently about it.







   

Changes Begin On Highway One For Commuters

A big change to the commute today for those travelling west-bound on Highway One. The Crown Street Exit is closed and won't re-open with a new exit now in place just a short distance down the highway. This is all part of the work on the One Mile Interchange. Brad Mullin is an engineer with the Department of Transportation and tells CHSJ News there are sure to be delays but the area will be well marked.
Also, traffic westbound is down to one lane in that area until the end of next month.

Change Of Plans For Quispamsis Company

(Quispamsis Town Council)
          (File Photo)

A used car sales lot on Millenium Drive in Quispamsis will not be turned into a Premanufactured Home Sales Lot. A company had submitted an application to council asking if they could use the vacant land near Tim Horton's and the Co-op for the project. Haldor Ltd withdrew its application after the town's Planning Advisory Committee did not recommend the lot be used for the sale of pre-manufactured homes. The P-A-C wanted the land to be paved so it would develop like the other properties on Millennium Drive.

Weston Predicts Saint John Will Be Battleground as Provincial Election Campaign Heats Up

(Saint John M-P Rodney Weston)
                File Photo)


Saint John will be a battleground in the next provincial election and its a good thing so much attention will be focused on the city. That, from Saint John M-P Rodney Weston, who as a former provincial cabinet minister and chief of staff to then Premier Bernard Lord, confesses he's a partisan. Federal Liberal Leader Micheal Ignatieff sounded like he was campaigning last week when he launched a stinging attack on the Harper Government. Weston dismisses the salvo as desperation on the part of Ignatieff. He maintains, by and large, people are very comfortable with the performance of the Harper Government. The provincial Liberals have accused the previous Lord Government of not spending nearly enough in the Saint John area.

Marco Polo Project receives funding

(Barry Ogden accepts cheque from Ed Doherty)
(Photo Provided)

The Marco Polo Project may be complete sooner than expected thanks to a $20,000 grant from the provincial government.

Ed Doherty, Minister of Supply and Services, presented Project President Barry Ogden with the money so the Ship can be finished this summer.

The Boat is currently being worked on in the West Side, but the masts, rigging, bow sprit and deck can't be completed until the Marco Polo is moved to it's permanent location, which has yet to be decided.

One Mile Interchange construction causes major traffic changes

(File Photo)

Highway One Westbound traffic will see a major change tomorrow and for several weeks after.

The Crown Street Exit is being shut down and replaced with another just down the highway.

Also starting tomorrow, westbound traffic will be down to one lane near the construction site until the end of next month.

Brad Mullin is an engineer with the Department of Transportation and tells CHSJ News, this is all because of on-going construction of the One Mile Interchange. 

Mullin adds if everything stays on target, the job should be finished in late 2012.

BMO warns of increasing interest rates

(Mike Murphy)
(File Photo)

Small business owners should prepare for an increase in interest rates.

Mike Murphy of the Bank of Montreal in Saint John tells CHSJ News a change is expected from the low rates right now.

Murphy suggest small businesses should speak to someone about removing or reducing the risk by restructuring debt or securing longer-term interest rates.

Murphy suggests consumers can use BMO's online tool called "Smart Steps" to reduce other bank fees.