Doctor Fighting to Keep CBC Facility

Health Minister Mary Schyrer has some support in a city doctor who is fighting to keep the Canadian Blood Services operation right here at here and even expand it.

Dr. Andrea Garland tells CHSJ News she disagrees that opponets of the move to Dartmouth are flogging a dead horse because it seems to be a done deal.
Garland calls Canadian Blood Services an integral part of our provincial health care system.

Meeting Yields No Major Breakthroughs on Blood Distribution Centre Move

With construction of a new distribution center continuing in Dartmouth, the future of the Canadian Blood Services facility on University Avenue appears to be sealed. A meeting two weeks ago in Fredericton between doctors and officials from CBS yielded no major break-throughs and Health Minister Mary Schryer tells CHSJ News, the Province continues to support doctors:

Minister Schryer adds there is word the doctors are looking at forming a committee among themselves to go along with the non-partisan task force.

Final Day to Vote for Monopoly Spot

Today is the final day to cast your vote on-line to get Saint John on the Monopoly Board. Saint John MP Rodney Weston tells CHSJ News, he was keeping close tabs on the web-site to see how the voting was coming along until they took it off to ""heighten"" the suprise:
Even though on-line voting ends tonight, you can still cast a write in ballot for a wild card spot either Baltic or Mediterranean Avenues. The on-line voting is at monopolyvote.ca with 20 cities to be chosen for a spot on the board.

Church Officials Do Not Want To Be A Heritage Site

The Stone Church Vestry is asking not to be considered as part of the city heritage area.

The church on Carleton Street is already considered a National Historic site by the federal government and are not interested in becoming a city site. Arch Deacon David Edwards says they are not opposed to heritage sites but if the church is a city site, it could prevent future redevelopment.
Edwards adds the church is fine with the area becoming a heritage zone as long as the Stone Church isn't apart of it.

Skate to Care Fastly Approaching

In less than a week, Harbour Station will play host to the 23rd edition of Investors Group Skate to Care. Katie Emreich is a teacher at Kennebecasis Valley High and has been participating in the event since she was 14. Emreich tells CHSJ News, she lost an uncle to suicide when she was 12: This is the second year that Emreich is captaining a team from the high school and loves the fact her students are taking part and getting involved. All of the money raised goes to Mindcare.

Police Chief Thankful for Volunteer Group

You may never have heard of The Victim Service Unit of the Saint John Police Force.
They are a group of 10 volunteers who provide support to victims of crime and tragic circumstances. Police Chief Bill Reid says it's a boon to the City force and the citizens to have this service.
The Unit's volunteers provided over 5200 hours of coverage last year. Volunteers are on call from 7pm til 7am during the week and on weekends from 7pm on Friday until 7am Monday morning.

Fire Destroys Cottage

An early morning fire yesterday is resulting in a cottage being destroyed.
District Chief William Johnstone says crews responded to the blaze on Columbus Lane, just off the Acamac Backland Road and found the cottage was fully engulfed in flames.
Crews were on the scene for about 3 and a half hours and there were no injuries.