Gerry Lowe To Run In Ward 3

A former cab company owner and local  businessman has announced he's throwing his hat in the ring for the empty seat in Ward 3.

Gerry Lowe tells CHSJ News he's all for creating jobs in the industrial sector including potash, shale gas, and a West-East oil pipeline--because at the end of the day, running the city is the same as any business and comes down to the almighty dollar.

Lowe ran Vet's Taxi for 43 years before selling it a few years ago and has sat on the city's Planning and Advisory Committee for the past 6 years.

Federal Money Will Fund A Research Chair and Equipment

Saint John MP Rodney Weston came by with $625 thousand dollars for the Dalhousie medical school to fund a research chair and buy specialized occupational medicine equipment. 

Dr. Tony Reiman tells us it's not the kind of thing you find in a hardware store but customized equipment that scientists need in the lab when they are trying to understand the biology of some health problem.

He says they are talking about basic things like freezers for samples but also highly specialized stethoscopes.

Money has also been raised to hire a doctor with specialized training in workplace health and safety who Reiman describes as a rare bird adding no one is doing that kind of work in Atlantic Canada.

Water Is Still Covering Some Roads

Flooding is still an issue in some areas due to the heavy rains yesterday. 

Many roads remain closed because of flooding in areas from Nauwigewauk to St. George. 

Water on the Porter Road had receded by 1pm today.

Here in the City, Todd Street and Westmorland road are back open to traffic and Simpson Drive is open with a caution sign in place.

For more info on the closures, click here

The Musquash Fire Department also would like to remind people to keep off the ice on lakes, rivers and ponds.

Even ice that looks solid may not support the weight of a person.

Reid Says Speed Limit Changes Require The Province

Lower speeds on streets like Main Street or the Causeway might appeal to pedestrians and cyclists....but according to Police Chief Bill Reid they also pose a number of legislative challenges.

He says you have to get provincial folks on side and everything comes with a strategy but there is nothing wrong with moving forward.

Reid says when such motions have been brought before council in the past the province has objected due to concerns about congestion and slower commutes.

Reardon Wants The City Speed Limits Lowered

Not so fast! Common councillor Donna Reardon asking city staff to consider lowering the speed limit in the city to a maximum of 50km per hour. 

The councillor tells CHSJ News as an avid pedestrian she often sees the speed limits ignored.     She says the cars are always speeding here and she says if we want to be more pedestrian-friendly and walkable the speeds should come down a bit.

Reardon asking city staff to investigate the possibility of overhead radar speed monitors like they have in Ontario, which would allow the police to nab speeders more effectively.

Deer Committee Will Release Survey Soon

With the rising number of collisions and the ongoing destruction of gardens, residents from Rothesay to Hampton want to see a solution to the deer problem.
 
The deer committee made up of Regional mayors and others will be asking the community what they think in the survey.
 
Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll tells CHSJ News a decision on what to do about the pesky critters is not up to them.

He says they can get the pulse of the people on this issue but they don't have any control over how that population is increased or decreased.

Driscoll says the survey will be making its way to the various residents through their town councils soon.

Home Show In Saint John This Weekend

Another sign that spring is just around the corner is when Harbour Station hosts the annual home show. That's happening this weekend with more than 130 exhibitors and it usually draws a big turnout from the region.

Denise Miller of Master Promotions tells CHSJ News a growing number of people come armed with definite ideas they may have gotten on the internet on what they want done to their homes.

The Saint John Animal Rescue League will also be at the Station if you want to adopt a shelter pet.

Province Changes Mind About Deer Farming

The Alward government had talked about banning deer farming after a man in northern New Brunswick was killed sometime ago by one of his own deer but will allow the farming of white-tailed deer in the province. 

A review was done after the government got some pushback on a ban.
 
The provincial government will not allow pen hunting and farmers will not be permitted to sell white-tailed deer meat and other white-tailed products within New Brunswick.
 
Deer farmers will have to comply with provincial rules on fencing standards and identification of farmed deer in order to obtain a permit to keep white-tailed deer. 

They will also be required to comply with any federal requirements in order to lessen the risk to wild populations of white-tailed deer.

New Fire Department Training Academy Could Be Up And Running Within Months

Plans for a new training academy unveiled by the Saint John Fire Department at an open house. 

The previous training tower was judged to be unsafe in 2008 and then torn down in 2011. 

Fire Chief Kevin Clifford tells CHSJ News a new training facility, which would cost something like 750 thousand dollars, is essential for firefighters to maintain skills they may not use on a regular basis.

He also says it's essential for firefighters in a city like Saint John where you have a concentration of heavy industry, a nuclear power plant nearby, among the oldest housing stock in the country and alot of vacant buildings that have become attractive targets for arson.

The Chief is hoping to have the new training tower ready to be used in the fall. One location being looked at is McIntosh Street off Boar's Head Road. He would like to see it generate a bit of revenue with other fire departments training there.

A Change At The Greater Saint John Community Foundation

The Greater Saint John Community Foundation will be getting a new chair. Dr. Stephen Willis, who has chaired the Foundation for the past two years, is giving up that job. 

The Foundation's assets are up to 9 million dollars and last year, more than 290 thousand dollars were donated to local charities.

In the meantime, the Saint John Volunteer Centre  is receiving 55 thousand dollars in federal funding for an 18-month leadership project in Saint John. 

The project will identify barriers to young women's participation in leadership roles, particularly membership on boards of directors of community organizations. Project participants will receive training on leadership, governance and committee procedures as well as opportunities for mentorship and internship on a community board.

Little Movement With Gas Prices

Not much change with gas prices after the weekly setting. 

Self serve regular is up a bit in the city at $1.31.3 a litre while diesel is basically the same as it was at $1.38.9.

Road Closures Because Of Flooding

A couple of roads in their area are closed because of localised flooding. 

They would be the Saint John end of the Nauwigewauk Loop Road, which is prone to flooding, and Porter Road. 

Police are also keeping a close watch on the Hammond River Road. At last report, water levels are about even with the road but if they rise then there would would be an overflow onto the road itself.

There was also the buildup of water on Rothesay Avenue by the train bridge and closed to traffic from the Old Rothesay Road.

The city also telling us Simpson Drive is down to one lane.......Todd Street from Simpson to Broadview is closed and Ashburn Road at Rothesay Road is closed. Police caution roads are slippery this morning and you should slow down. There has already been one accident along Golden Grove Road with a truck flipping over onto its roof.