Fireworks Alarms Fredericton Area Residents

People in Fredericton and the outlying communities getting spooked by a celebration for the Currie Centre

Fireworks were launched last night celebrating the Currie Centre but according to the chatter on Facebook and Twitter, many residents weren't expecting such a loud celebration.

The online reactions ranging from the annoyed to the surprised.

The fireworks could be heard in the communities of Rusagonis and Lincoln outside the city.

Mural Honouring Fallen Soldiers Makes Stop In City

The Portrait of Honour making a stop in the Port City today while it continues on a cross-Canada tour.

The mural shows the faces of every Canadian solider, sailor, and aircrew who have lost there lives during the war effort in Afghanistan.

Wayne McQuarrie with the Charlotte-Fundy Kin Club tells CHSJ News the memorial will be coming down from its tour stop in Fredericton.

He says the parents of Saint Johner David Greenslade, who as killed in Afghanistan back in 2008, will be at the base when the mural arrives.

The mural will be on public display until 3pm down at the Barrack Green Armouries on Broadview Avenue.

Province Releases Survey For Disability Action Plan Strategy

The Alward Government is looking for input on the Disability Action Plan Strategy. 

It has released a survey and is looking for your input on the current level of services available in the province.

The province wants your input by November 11 and plans to have town hall meetings throughout New Brunswick on the issue.

To take the questionnaire, click here.

Fire Prevention Week Encourages Family Fire Safety

The Saint John Fire Department urging area residents to keep their families safe from fire. This in time for Fire Prevention Week, which runs October 9th to 15th.

Captain of Fire Prevention and Investigation Roy Nolan tells CHSJ News that the public is encouraged to tip off the fire department to hazards in the area.

Saint Johners are also advised to test smoke alarms, maintain heaters and chimneys in time for the heating season, and sleep with bedroom doors closed.

The Fire Department is hosting displays of fire safety equipment today at Canadian Tire locations on Fairville Boulevard and Westmoreland Road.

Read To Work Tourism Program Rolls Out Graduates

The Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick celebrating the success of a new program.

15 people recently graduating from the program and some of them will be working in the Saint John area.

The Ready-To-Work Program trains unemployed New Brunswickers in a range of tourism-related skills. Participants get a chance to improve their chances of re-entering the work force.

The program boasts a 60% success rate for graduates launching careers in tourism. 

It is delivered free of charge.

Water Metre Breaks At Apartment Building

A water metre break at an apartment building on 55 Winter Street causing some headaches.

The fire department getting the call around 2 this morning.

A few apartments getting some water but no serious damage.

No one was displaced.

Bare Necessities Campaign Is Undeway

The Women In Business Forum at the Saint John Board of Trade are keeping up their good works this year through the Bare Necessities campaign.
It sees people contribute travel-size toiletries at a variety of locations around the city all to benefit over 20 local charities.
President Imelda Gilman tells CHSJ News it came out of a discussion about how many business people have a drawer full of toiletries from their various trips.

She says the idea came about to collect the toiletries and let people donate them to help people in our community.

The 10th annual Bare Necessities campaign runs until November 25th.
Gilman says they will be distributed to various groups in early December.
For a list of the items they are looking for, click here

Unemployment Rate In City Drops

Saint John saw its jobless rate go down from 5.8 to 5.7 per cent last month and the provincial rate has also fallen to just under 9 per cent at 8.9 per cent.

Nationally, 61 thousand jobs were created in September which pushed the unemployment rate down to 7.1 per cent, the lowest it has been since the financial meltdown late in 2008.

 Much of the job gains were due to a seasonal hiring spree in the education sector as schools returned to session.

 The private sector actually shed about 15,000 jobs and the key manufacturing sector lost 23,500 workers.

Mayor Mentions Declaring Bankruptcy When Talking About City Pension Woes

For the first time, the word bankruptcy has been mentioned in connection with the city's financially strapped pension plan.

It's Mayor Ivan Court who's doing the mentioning as he expresses frustration with the province which ultimately will decide what the city's pension plan will look like.

Court goes on to say the magic formula to putting this right is not raising taxes by 16 or 18 cents or having no city services.

He also points out the city doesn't have the luxury of running a deficit like the federal and provincial governments can.

Our Listeners React To Possible Annual Inspection Changes

Our Facebook friends reacting to the idea of the province toying with annual motor vehicle inspections.

James likes the idea adding they should also get rid of annual registration every year so we can operate like B.C.    Bob says kids are too precious to have in an unsafe vehicle adding he has seen a tire rod break twice and you wouldn't want to see it happen on the highway.
He is happy to pay every year just for the peace of mind.

Sandra says her car is newer and serviced regularly so annual motor vehicle inspections are just another tax grab.  Dennis doesn't think the province will do it because they stand to  lose too much money.  

Add your voice to the conversation on our Facebook page click here

Ladies Fast For North End Food Drive

Two women will be going without food in order to fill a trailer so others will not go hungry.
Tammy Calvin and Andrea Richards will be hosting the food drive on the 13th and finishing when the trailer is full.

The trailer will be set up in Lansdowne Plaza and they are looking for a variety of foods including soups and canned goods, bread and rolls and canned vegetables.

All proceeds will go to the North End Food Bank on Adelaide Street.

The foods required are:

·        Soups and can goods
·        Bread and rolls
·        Canned vegetables
.        Canned fruits
·        Rice, pasta, Kraft Dinner etc.
·        Cereal and oatmeal
·        Snack foods for children’s lunches
·        Baby foods, diapers and formula
·        Laundry soap, shampoo, body soaps, deodorant etc.
·        Crackers
·        Condiments – soya sauce, ketchup, mayo. etc.
·        Pancake mixes and syrups
·        Peanut butter, cheese whiz, jams etc.

CBS Looks To Increase Donations Near Thanksgiving

Canadian Blood Services is currently in "signal mode".
Michelle Thibodeau says it's just a rallying to get people to come in, donate blood and save lives.
She tells CHSJ News they always encourage people to donate on Holiday weekends because their regular donors are often away.

She says they do see an increase of accidents and they can require up to 50 units of blood which is the equivalent of an entire blood clinic.
The Saint John Blood Donor clinic at 400 University Avenue will be closed on Monday and will reopen Tuesday from 11am to 8pm.
To book an appointment, click here

Premier Says Its Up To The City And Its Unions To Solve Pension Deficit

Premier David Alward in town amid what many see as a crisis with the city's pension plan and its burgeoning deficit.

Mayor Ivan Court has called on the province to step up to the plate but the Premier doesn't seem to be in any hurry saying the city and its employee groups have to get together and work out a solution.

City Manager Pat Woods is hoping to come up with a recommendation on what to propose to the province for approval this month.

Alward says he's not aware of the charge made by the Police Association that the province's actuary, who rejected the city's proposed changes to the pension plan, might be in a conflict of interest after earlier being given the heave ho by the city and its pension board.

Trump Offers Advice In Saint John

Two famous Americans and one controversial Canadian commanding the attention of more than 2000 people at Harbour Station.

The SPARK event featuring Donald Trump and former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani told the crowd a story of a construction worker picking up and hugging former US President George W. Bush three days after the 9/11 attacks during a visit a ground zero.

Williams spoke of taking Newfoundland and Labrador from near bankruptcy to becoming a "have" province with as many visitors last year as they have residents.

Trump telling the crowd to have passion and go against the tide and if anyone screws you, screw them five times harder.

Body Of Missing Man Found

The body of a 67-year-old Chipman area man, Harold Barton, who had been missing since Tuesday night when he was last seen at the Chipman Bowling Alley has been found.
It was thought Barton was on his way home or to his camp at Cold Creek near Grand Lake.
A truck was found submerged in Grand Lake. Divers confirmed the body of the missing man was inside that truck.
Police say they do not suspect foul play and an autopsy will be carried out.

NBCC Hosts Open House

NBCC in Saint John hosting an open house for high school students today at the Grandview Avenue campus.

The campus will also host an open house for the general public between 5 and 7pm.

Police Association Says Province Could Be In Conflict Of Interest Over City Pension

The Police Association would like the city unions and Mayor Ivan Court have a face to face sit down meeting with Premier David Alward and the M-L-A's. 

Bob Davidson of the Police Association says the case could be made directly why the province should accept the city's original reforms to its pension plan which their actuary decided would work.

Davidson says the province is now using an actuary the city got rid of and he questions how unbiased that arrangement can be and questions whether the province is in a conflict of interest because of its choice of actuary.
 

C-A-A Wants to Keep M-V-I's

The Canadian Automobile Association believes it would be a mistake to get rid of yearly motor vehicle inspections. The provincial government is looking at making changes and wants to hear from you.

Gary Howard of the C-A-A tells CHSJ News an inspection can uncover problems with your tires and exhaust system the driver may not even be aware of. He says your tires normally have a life span of two to 3 years before you need new ones.
 

Howard says he can go along with brand new cars not undergoing an inspection for two or three years.

You can make your views known tonight at a town hall meeting which gets underway at 6:00 in Ganong Hall on the campus of U-N-B Saint John.

SPARK Is Underway At Harbour Station

Three well-known speakers offering their expertise in business, politics and more as SPARK gets underway at Harbour Station.
The event featuring Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and Danny Williams.
In his welcome address, Premier David Alward told a crowd of more than 2000 it takes vision, resilience and leadership to build and re-build.

Alward says these three leaders have demonstrated these qualities many times in their careers.    Former Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams shared his story with the crowd including how four months before his first election win he was forced to have back surgery.
SPARK continues at Harbour Station today with Giulani and Trump.

Police Commission Told To Stand Up To Common Council

Don't be bullied by Common Council.........That message was delivered to the Police Commission by the Saint John Police Association which is responding to the request for a hiring freeze until the 2012 city budget is finalised.

The Police Association's Bob Davidson says Common Council is exceeding its authority under the law unless it wants to disband the Police Commission.

He argues the only authority Council has under the Police Act and the Municipalities Act is to either approve or reject the police department's budget but cannot interfere in its day to day operations.
 

Davidson also told the Police Commission there are lots of police officers now talking about retiring.

There has been no public response from the Police Commission whose Chair Chris Waldshutz told Davidson he didn't want this to turn into a media circus.