Former Saint John Mayor Dies

A former MLA and Saint John Mayor has died.

Eric Teed was the Mayor of Saint John from 1960 to 1964.

Teed was also a lawyer, and founded Saint John's first legal aid clinic.

He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1987.

Both Mayor Ivan Court and Premier David Alward have offered their condolences to the family.

Celebrate New Year's Eve On The Boardwalk

If you're looking for something to do on New Year's Eve, you might want to consider heading down to the boardwalk. 

Spokesperson Amy Stewart tells us the free concerts begin at 8:00 with six performances including the Playdates, the Brent Mason Band and Monday Night Symphony. 

A skating rink will be set up behind the stage again this year for those who bring their skates. 

Stewart says the Sea Dogs will also be making an appearance after their game to hand out noise makers and hats before the fireworks begin at midnight.

Number of House Fire Deaths Rises

The number of people dying in house fires in Atlantic Canada has gone up 206 per-cent this year according to the Canadian Red Cross. 

Bill Lawlor, director of disaster management for Atlantic Canada, tells CHSJ News house fires are often caused by old space heaters, plugged chimneys or wood-burning furnaces that haven't been used in awhile.

Thirty-three people died in residential fires in Atlantic Canada this year, 10 of them in New Brunswick.

Mayor Ivan Court Says City Achieved Alot In 2010 With A Tough Year Ahead

Mayor Ivan Court views saving the Princess of Acadia ferry service between Saint John and Digby as one of the big achievements for the year.

The Mayor tells CHSJ News the ferry service got a reprieve from the federal government for a few years but he wants something more permanent including a new ship being built down the road.

Court says the Princess of Acadia is good for the local economy with 100 jobs and 13 to 14 million dollars in wages.

Court says the city got a boost from 16 million dollars in stimulus money from the provincial and federal government which will not be available next year.

The big challenge in 2011, according to the Mayor, is fixing the city pension plan.

Seadogs To Raise Money For Flood Relief

The Seadogs will be doing their part tomorrow night to help the victims of flooding in Charlotte County.

The Seadog Foundation will match dollar for dollar donations made by the fans who will be at the Station to see the Rivalry Cup game against Moncton.

Seadogs President Wayne Long tells CHSJ News the goal is to raise at least 10 thousand dollars.

Long expects the game to be sold out and those people who can't make it can still donate at Bank of Nova Scotia branches or the Charlotte County Credit Union. Something like a hundred homes or so were flooded.

New Year Will See Higher Gas Prices

Gas prices in the city taking a jump after the weekly setting.

Self serve regular is now up to $1.10.5 a litre, a rise of almost 3 cents.

Diesel rose by just over 2 cents a litre to stand at $1.17.3.

Heating oil is also more expensive being listed at $1.03 a litre, an increase of just over 2 cents.

Not Guilty Verdict In Saint John Murder Trial Being Appealed

The acquittal in late November of 28 year old Crystal Dawn McKenzie on a charge of second degree murder in the stabbing death of her common law husband is being appealed by the prosecution.

29 year old Patrick Thomas was stabbed to death on Alma Street last March. The jury was told the relationship was abusive and McKenzie was dragged along the street by her hair before she got her hands on a knife and stabbed Thomas in the area of his collarbone.

The jury of 9 women and 3 men was told of a stormy relationship but the prosecution maintains McKenzie took things too far.

More Than Half The Ski Runs Are Open At Poley

With all the snow, ski and snowboard lovers are flocking to the slopes. If the weather co-operates, this can be a big time of the year for ski hills.

Poley Mountain General Manager Bill Anderson tells CHSJ News 18 of 30 runs were open to the public yesterday. He says that's great for this time of year considering the weather.

Anderson says Poley will continue to make snow until mid-February.