Local Golf Course Off To Rough Start

The grey and rainy skies over the past few weeks has cast a huge grey cloud over the cash register at the Rockwood Park Golf Course.

Owner Gerry Connolly tells CHSJ News people business is down by the thousands of dollars and it is the worst start to the golf season he has ever seen.

He says even though there were some sunny days, golfers still stayed home simply because the forecast called for rain.

Grand Manan 5 Returns To Service On Tuesday

The Grand Manan V ferry will be back in service by next week.  Transportation Minister Claude Williams says work on the Grand Manan V is wrapping up and going through inspections before the ferry can be approved to set sail back to New Brunswick. It will leave the Quebec shipyard about 4 am tomorrow and if everything goes according to plan the ship will return to service on Tuesday.
The ferry is being repaired at a dry dock in Quebec after losing its steering capabilities and getting moored on a ledge near the wharf in Blacks Harbour.  For more information, call 506-662-3724 or click here

Harbour Passage Fans Get An Alternate Route

Fans of Harbour Passage have an alternate route to walk this summer while repairs are made to the Harbour Bridge.

The City of Saint John telling CHSJ News the route along Main Street is now complete.
You should follow the red dashed line to walk from Uptown Saint John to the North End or Douglas Avenue to access the other end of Harbour Passage.

There are now signs showing the alternate route posted at connection points to Harbour Passage and fluorescent pedestrian crossing signs are in place on the Viaduct.
Traffic and Pedestrian Services is working with the province's Department of Transportation to have a cycling route approved for Main Street--a provincially designated highway.  For more info, call the City of Saint John at 658-4455.

Fredericton Firefighter Calendar Benefits Local Cancer Patients

Half-naked firefighters from Fredericton raising big bucks for those struggling with breast cancer.  The Fredericton Fire Department bringing in over $22,000 dollars with their 2011 calendar.   Jeff Gillies tells CHSJ News it all came about because they wanted to raise money for a combat training tower and help out a charity.

He says a firefighter calendar proved to be the best option and the hospital recommended the Erin Appleby Breast Health Fund because it was local.
The fund recently receiving a cheque for over $6800 thanks to the success of the Fredericton Firefighters Calendar.

Walk To Cure Diabetes Breaks Local Fundraising Mark

Last Sunday's Walk for to Cure Diabetes at Rockwood Park bringing in over $116,000 beating the highest fundraising total by over $11,000.
Organizer Kelly Hare tells CHSJ News they will continue to hold fundraisers until the end of the year and expect to exceed $125,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation chapter in Saint John.   The organization bringing in over $415,000 including Saint John, Campobello Island, Oromocto and Moncton.

Last year JDRF funded 50 human clinical trials in their work to find a cure.
Over 45,000 people took part in the walk last weekend across the country with the event raising $7.5 Million.

Rookie MLA Reflects On First Session In The Legislature

The spring session of the legislature is over and rookie MLA for Saint John Harbour Carl Killen says it has been quite the experience.

Killen tells CHSJ News one of his most satisfying experiences from his first session in the ledge was enacting the province's distracted driving law.
 
He says being an MLA is definitely a challenge as you're literally learning on the job but he says he has no regrets.

Ugrades To Point Lepreau On Track

An update on the Point Lepreau refurbishment: according to the latest release from NB Power, more than 60 percent of the calandria tubes are installed  -- with a completion date of August -- and fuel channel installation is set to be finished by December.

The plant is on track to be up and running by the fall of 2012.

The refit was originally to be completed in September 2009 but was hit with several delays.  

Costs are one billion dollars over budget.

School District 8 Superintendent Says Budget Cuts Had To Be

An estimated 15 per cent of teens in Saint John have sought help for mental health issues. District 8 Superintendent Susan Tipper tells CHSJ News the school system can't tackle those needs by itself and the double digit figure should be a concern to the entire community.

Tipper says students should be getting the same messages about proper behaviour 24/7 not only at school but also from their parents and in the workplace as well.

Unlike francophone School District 1, District 8 has implemented the provincially mandated 2 per cent budget reduction which amounts to over 2 million dollars. School

Superintendent Susan Tipper, while conceding budget flexibility to move money around if need be has been lost, says judging by the province's dire financial situation, it had to be done.

Waste Commission Wants More Composting Done

The Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission is trying to keep people from putting compostable yard waste in the garbage can.

General Manager Marc MacLeod tells CHSJ News the Commission wants to charge a higher tipping fee for garbage that shows up at the landfill with yard waste in it.

MacLeod says other provinces can ban the throwing out of compostable material but that's not the case in New Brunswick. He says such a ban would help make composting mandatory.
 
MacLeod concedes voluntary composting seems to have reached it's peak