New Uptown Business Set To Open Next Month

(80 King Street-The future home of Silver Daisy Designs)

(photo by Tamara Steele)

A new mother-daughter gift shop is opening on King Street in the old Tapp's location next month.
Kate Lorden and her mother Germaine Doucette are waiting on renovations to be complete before the doors can open.


Lorden tells CHSJ News that Silver Daisy Designs will offer her handmade sterling silver jewellry, home decor and pet accessories.
Lorden says she loves working with her mom saying they both bring different strengths to the business.

Conservatives Not Impressed With Move By Energy Minister

(Saint John Portland MLA Trevor Holder)
                (File Photo)

Energy and it's future role continues to cause sparks to fly between the Liberals and Conservatives.


Saint John Portland MLA Trevor Holder is speaking out on the proposed new authority for the EUB when it comes to NB Power.

Holder tells CHSJ News, a policy on energy is still being put together piece-meal by the Graham Government.
Holder says he doesn't have a problem with Minister Keir making the decision because it is what voters asked for but funny it has to come on the eve of an election.

Switching Control Of NB Power To The EUB

(Energy Minister Jack Keir)
        (File Photo)

By this fall, responsibility of what NB Power has planned and is doing could fall into the hands of the Energy and Utilities Board.


A proposal has been taken to cabinet to put the change in place by this fall.


Energy Minister Jack Keir tells CHSJ News, NB Power is on board with the proposal.


Keir says after hearing from several organizations telling government to stay out of the public utilities business, he is listening.


Keir admits government involvement in the public utility has caused some of it's problems.

Energy and Utilities Board Taking It All In Stride

The EUB is welcoming the proposal saying it is all about public consultation and welcomes the views of others.
Chair Ray Gorman says at the end of the day, this is a government decision but welcomes the views of others.
Gorman doesn't believe this proposal will put more pressure on his group to meet the needs of many different organizations when it comes to electricity rates.

Saint John Energy Weighs In On Proposal

Saint John Energy is taking a cautious look at the new proposal.


President Eric Marr says this isn't the first time he has seen or heard about this proposal.


Marr says at this point, he doesn't know if that scenario is good or bad but feels the current set-up of reporting to it's board of commissioners is well focused on service and rates.

RCMP Find A Grow Op

A marijuana grow operation has been un-covered by RCMP at a home in Snyder Mountain yesterday.


Officers found 175 plants, dried marijuana and prescription medication packaged and ready to be sold.
A rifle was also found underneath a bed.


A 28 year old man has been released but will appear before a judge in the coming months to enter a plea on several charges.

Apartment Rental Numbers

According to the latest figures from Canada Mortgage and Housing, those living in an apartment are happy to be there.
As of April.1st, there is no change to the vacanacy rate, coming in at 4.7% over-all with a decline in Fredericton but a marginal increase in both Moncton and here in Saint John.


CMH says in-migration continues to support demand for apartment rentals in the Province's larger urban centres.
The highest apartment vacancy rate in the Province is 9.8% in Edmunston and it is the lowest in Miramichi at 3.4%.


The average price for a two bedroom apartment in Saint John is $644 dollars and $710 in both Moncton and Fredericton.

Saint John Law Firms Are Merging

Two of the largest law firms in Greater Saint John are finalizing a merger.


As of July.1st, Clark Drummie will join McInnes Cooper, which currently has more than 200 lawyers.


Details on where any new office space will be has not yet been released.

Forum To Discuss Sub-Standard Housing

An information session to discuss sub-standard housing will be held tomorrow at the Boys and Girls Club.


It is being hosted by by the Greater Saint John Homelessness Steering Committee.


Several groups will take part in the discussion to safeguard tenants by having appropriate policies and protective measures in place.


Some of the speakers include the office of the rentalsman, the building inspectors office and the Saint John Fire Department.

Rothesay Town Council Approves Plan To Alleviate Flooding In Oakville Acres

(Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop)
         (File Photo)

People living in Oakville Acres will be getting a solution to their flooding problem over the summer, but it's not the one they wanted to see happen first. Town Council is going ahead with a Clear Water System which will fix drainage problems underground. But Jim Sherrard of the Oakville Acres Citizens Committee says council should build a retention pond first to keep the water out of the subdivision.
Sherrard fears if there's a major rainfall the properties will still be flooded. He adds there is also an expectation homeowners will have to pay to hook themselves up to the underground drainage system, which could cost up to 10,000 dollars per household. For his part, Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop says Council has full intention of building the retention pond after they purchase the land for it and no one is going to pay 10,000 dollars to get their house hooked up to the drainage system.

Keir Blasts Conservative Leader Over Being Transparent With Voters

(Provincial Energy Minister Jack Keir)
                (File Photo)

Jack Keir thinks David Alward's closed door negotiations with large industry are shameful considering his pledge to be transparent with voters in the Province. The Provincial Energy Minister is referring to the Conservative leader's Energy summit in Moncton.
Keir says Alward has changed his tune after holding the government's feet to the fire over the NB Power-Hydro Quebec talks. Keir is calling the about face shameful.
Keir says while he couldn't care less about Alward's visit last week with Premier Danny Williams, the Conservative leader should have been clear about who was footing the bill for his flight.

Seven Impaired Driving Arrests in Charlotte County

(file photo)

A flurry of impaired drivers in Charlotte County has the RCMP looking into seven different incidents.

All seven drivers, both men and women, ranging in age from 16 to 42, were arrested over the past four days for Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

They have all been released and have upcoming court dates in St. Stephen in August.

International Award for Efficiency NB

(Efficiency NB President and CEO Elizabeth Weir)

(photo by Tamara Steele)

Say "Congrats!" to anyone you know at Efficiency NB the next time you see them. They are the first Canadian organization to receive the International Star Award from the Alliance to Save Energy.
It recognizes the company's program for large industry for pioneering creative energy efficiency programs and innovative solutions.
President and CEO Elizabeth Weir tells CHSJ News sometimes when you are busy working hard you don't stop to look at your achievements.

She adds because the award comes from outside of the province and the country, it means a great deal.  Weir will travel to Washington in September to collect the Award.

Oromocto Legion Fire Is An Act Of Arson

         (Oromocto Legion Before Fire Last Friday)
                (Photo Courtesy of a Listener)

RCMP is now confirming the fire last Friday that destroyed the Legion in Oromocto was deliberately set.

No arrests have been made but officers have identified people they feel may have been involved in the blaze.


If you or someone you know was near the Legion the night the fire broke out or during the early morning when crews were gtrying to smother the flames, RCMP ask you give them a call or call Crimestoppers.

New Moosehead Beer Available on June 26th

Coming soon to a liquor store new you, from the vats at Moosehead Brewery, it's latest flavour, Moose Light Blackberry for you to try.

The new beverage is hitting the shelf a year after the West-Side brewery launched it's hugely successful light lime suds.
The company says it considered several flavour options for its new beer and blackberry was by far the clear choice.

Moose Light Blackberry will be available on the 26th.

Blaney Responds to Liberal Ad

(Rothesay Conservative MLA Margaret Ann Blaney)
                  (File Photo)


The Conservative MLA for Rothesay is responding to a Liberal ad featured on this radio station.


It takes issue with Margaret Ann Blaney's stance of a recent water infrastructure announcement by Premier Graham.
If elected, the Liberal Government has promised to put foward a third of the cost associated with an upgrade.


The commercial indicates that Blaney is calling the move irresponsible but she tells CHSJ News, it's not the upgrade she is calling out but the two billion dollars in spending committments the Graham Government has made since January.


Blaney says she can't figure out how the Shawn Graham plans to keep all of his promises if re-elected with no limit to what the party will spend.

New Piece Of Equipment For The Refinery

(Crews Are Slowly Moving Dehexanizer For Delivery To Refinery)


                     (Photo by Jim Hennessy)


A huge and expensive piece of equipment has arrived in port for the Irving Oil Refinery.


It's called a Dehexinizer and is being off-loaded near the WallBoard Plant on Bayside Drive.


Officials are going to leave it near that property until after the rush hour drive home and then move it with a police escort to it's home at the Refinery this evening.


The unit was built in Korea at a cost of $99 million dollars and took two months to get here. It is 185 feet long, 16 feet in diameter and weighs over 200 metric tonnes.


It's main function is to reduce benzyne content in gasoline by 30% which meets U.S. regulations.
 
150 new jobs will be created to hook up the Dehexinizer which should go on-line by this time next year.

Canadian Union Of Public Employees Comes Up With Own Solution To Pension Problem

Finance Ministers from across the country are meeting on P-E-I trying to reach an agreement on changing the Canada Pension Plan amid concern most of us aren't putting away enough money for retirement. The President of CUPE New Brunswick, Danny Legere tells CHSJ News both employers and employees will have to contribute more. Legere goes on to say asking people to set aside money for RRSP's is easier said than done with mandy living pay cheque to pay cheque. Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty wants to make it easier for financial institutions to offer pension plans to cover self-employed Canadians and others without corporate plans. He's also proposing modest increases in Canada Pension Plan payroll premiums that would be phased in. Canadian Labour Congress president Ken Georgetti has travelled to the P-E-I meeting to try to persuade the ministers to increase premiums enough to double benefits. Flaherty doubts whether that will have much support around the table.

Lifesaving Society Warns Boaters to Wear Life Jackets

A 51 year old man, who drowned yesterday in Douglas Lake after his canoe capsized, was not wearing a life jacket. The Executive Director of the Lifesaving Society in the province, Elizabeth Lemothe tells CHSJ News this is the third such incident recently in the Saint John area which she finds shocking. Just three weeks ago, three teens rescued a man who was exhausted and near drowning from a capsized canoe. A month before that, a fisherman in Grand Bay-Westfield lost his life after the boat he was in capsized.
She advises people if they're going to be on the water to think about a life jacket as insurance because if you fall in, chances are you won't have time to put it on. Lemothe says canoes and kayaks are the most dangerous.

Naval Exercises Underway and To Continue

A major multi-national naval exercise is and will continue to take place along the Canadian and US Eastern Seaboard up until the 25th.



Of particular interest are the vicinities of the Bay of Fundy, St. Margaret's Bay and the approaches to Halifax Harbour.

Warships are manoeuvring in the St Margaret's Bay area preparing for and conducting among other activities simulated mine-countermeasures operations.

Between June 20 and 22nd, ship and aircraft activities will occur in the Bay of Fundy area.


Vessels and aircraft will engage in mock combat operations at sea and conduct simulated bombing runs at CFB Gagetown.

Close Call For Quispamsis Men

As the community of St. Stephen comes to grips with the loss of a teenager after an ATV accident, it was a close call for two men from Quipamsis over the weekend.

RCMP tell us two machines got into an accident yesterday near the Creek Road in Waterford. One of the vehicles was rear-ended and both men, 22 and 21 years old, were taken to the Regional to get checked out.


Officers believe alcohol was a factor in the crash and charges are expected.

Drowning Victim Is Identified

51-year old Phillipe Michaud of Rothesay has been identified as the man who drowned yesterday on Douglas Lake in a canoe that turned over.

People who live in the East Saint John neighbourhood heard a man screaming for help and they ploughed into the lake trying to save the victim who was found at the bottom.
Michaud was brought to shore and C-P-R was performed on him but to no avail.

Car Fire Forces Closure Of Part Of Rothesay Road

Part of Rothesay Road was blocked off by police from the old Colwell Store past the road into K-Park to the Torryburn Irving after 4 this morning when a car was set on fire in the middle of the road. Police say the mess has now been cleaned up and the road is clear for traffic.

Man Drowns In East Saint John

Both the Lifesaving Society and the fire department are warning people to wearing a life jacket if you're boating. A 51 year old man drowned early this morning after the canoe he and another man were in capsized on Douglas Lake behind Morrison Road in East Saint John. People who live in the neighbourhood heard a man screaming for help and they tried to save another man who was found at the bottom of the lake by bringing him to shore and performing C-P-R but to no avail.


The fire department also responded to a fire at about the same time at 70 Mountain Road which is considered suspicious. No one was at home when the blaze started. Fire crews were there for about three hours. Damage was heavy and the Major Crime Unit is now investigating.

Saint Johnners Call For Smarter Growth And Not Sprawl

(Plan SJ Storefront In Brunswick Square)
                  (File Photo)

Lots of Saint Johners are giving Plan SJ much wanted input for the city's new municipal plan and they want growth to be smarter and smaller. Nearly one hundred people showed up to an Open House over the weekend to share ideas on how to grow the city. Deputy Commissioner of Planning Jackie Hamilton says there were a few themes that came up again and again including more growth taking place in the urban core including the north end and lower west side before spreading to the outskirts. Hamilton says we're still a year and a half away from the final product with the new municipal plan set to be finished by the end of 2011.

Provincial Election Campaign Not Real Yet

(U-N-B Poly Sci Professor Don Desserud)
                     (File Photo)

A U-N-B Saint John political scientist is weighing in on the Corporate Research Associates poll which gave the Graham Liberals 37 per cent support and the Conservatives 42 per cent.
Don Desserud tells CHSJ news the numbers are what he would expect since this is not the real campaign and he wonders if voters tune out poll results. According to Desserud, the "real campaign" doesn't start until about four weeks before the election.
In the Corporate Research Associates poll, the NDP has 16 per cent support of the voters and the Green Party had 5 per cent and Desserud warns they should be taken seriously.

New Tourism Strategies Being Worked On

(Federal Cabinet Minister and Fundy Royal M-P Rob Moore)
                                 (File Photo)

Fundy Royal MP and Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism Rob Moore is keeping a close watch on the summer season hoping many choose this country to spend some vacation time. Moore says tourism makes up 2% of the national economy.
Moore says the cruise industry is anticipating steady growth this and in the years to come and realizes there are challenges in bringing more people to the country by land. Several strategies are being worked on which include marketing directly to Chinese tourists. Moore says the U.S. market is still the most important market and he claims it is recovering after the ill effects of the financial meltdown.

Graduation Ceremonies Scheduled In School District 6

(School District 6 Superintendent Zoe Watson)
                   (File Photo)

With graduation season upon us District 6 has six ceremonies to prepare for. School Superintendent Zoe Watson say the first graduation ceremony is for the PALS school in Sussex and it's on June the 18th.
Belle Isle Regional High grads get their diplomas on Wednesday the 23rd while Hampton and Sussex High both go on Thursday the 24th. Watson says K-V High and Rothesay High finish up with ceremonies on the 25th and 26th.  

Natural Gas For District Eight

Four schools in District Eight are converting to natural gas this summer.

Director of Finance and Administration Chris Toole tells CHSJ News, he isn't sure this will mean signifigant savings as the price for each building is different.

Toole says the work will be carried out over the summer and finished in time for the first day of school in the fall.

The schools being converted are Havelock, Beaconsfield, Centennial and Princess Elizabeth.

Food Policy Not Perfect

(File Photo)

A policy that ensures healthy food is served at school cafeterias may not be working to the best of it's ability.

District Six Superintendant Zoe Watson says Policy 711 has brought on some positive changes. 

She says more students are drinking water and eating healthy snacks.

Watson says no one wants to go back to serving chips and chocolate bars, but cafeteria revenues have declined since the policy came into place.

She says high school students near fast food restaurants often leave the school at lunch to eat junk food anyway.

New Initiative Working Well

An initiative launched last year by the Provincial Education Department is getting rave reviews from the District Eight Education Council.

A student was selected from one of the four local high schools to sit as an active member and give a fresh perspective.

Elizabeth Murphy finished her mandate last week and tells CHSJ News, it has been an amazing experience.

Murphy is attending St. Thomas University in the fall and says they experience has her giving serious consideration about pursuing a career in the education field.

Murphy's replacement, Chris Harper will sit in on his first meeting in August.

Bay Of Fundy A Real Wonder

The Bay of Fundy is well known for having the highest tides in the world, but it may soon be known for something more.

The Bay of Fundy is currently one of the 28 finalists in the 7 Wonders of Nature contest.

Terri McCulloch, Manager of Bay of Fundy Tourism, says Facebook has been a big help in getting people to vote.

The Bay of Fundy is up against Wonders like the Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon and the Amazon Rainforest. 

It is the only Wonder still in the competition from Canada. 

To vote for the Bay of Fundy as one of the 7 Wonders of Nature, go to : www.new7wonders.com/community/en/new7wonders/new7wonders_of_nature/voting.

Artisans Get Kicked Out

(Vendors Pack up in Loyalist Plaza)
(Photo By Sherry Aske)
Local artisans who take up shop in the Loyalist Plaza during the cruise ship season are being kicked out of their spot despite a signed contract.

Lisa Mourade is one of many vendors who signed a contract with the Hardman Group and paid them $250 so she could sell handcrafted items in the brick circle by the Volley Ball Courts.

She says it was only the second day of the season when a security guard came on behalf of the Hardman Group and told them they couldn't be there.

But Mourade and a few other vendors chose to stay, saying they had paid for a spot and signed a contract that allowed them to be there.

More than half of the vendors packed up and left, despite the cruise ship passengers in town.

Red Hat Hoot Parade

Balancing The Books

(Premier Shawn Graham)
(File Photo)

You may have heard it before.........How you can lower taxes and balance the provincial government's books at the same time.

Premier Shawn Graham maintains he can accomplish that by 2014.

The latest report from R-B-C Economics is forecasting the provincial economy is getting stronger which, in turn, should support job creation, income growth, housing and boost consumer spending.

Smart Boards For District 6

(File Photo)

Almost ninety per cent of all classrooms in District 6 are now equipped with Smart Boards.

District Education Council Member John MacDonalds says they were able to purchase 130 new Smart Boards this year thanks to a surplus in the budget.

MacDonald says Kindergarden Classrooms through to Grade 8 are pretty much all equiped with Smart Boards.

In High Schools they have been able to reach all science and math classes.

New St. Stephen Store

(File Photo)

This story is for you if you live in St. Stephen or surrounding area.

The NB Liquor Store on King Street will be closed tomorrow so staff can get started with moving stock and equipment to the new store, just up the road on King Street.

The new store will open Monday morning at nine with a grand opening scheduled to take place on June 25th at noon.

Numbers Up In District Eight

(Susan Tipper)
(File Photo)

After years of steady decline, there may be some hope on the horizon for enrolment in District Eight.

Superintendent Susan Tipper tells CHSJ news, kindergarten numbers are up by 14 bodies compared to last year.

Tipper adds the increase may be the result of parents being aware that a child or children have to be registered for kindergarten before September.

Between 1994 and last year, District Eight has seen it's enrolment drop by 3445 students.

Low Rate of Home Construction

New home construction in the greater Saint John area remains sluggish according to the latest survey from Canada Mortgage and Housing.

The federal agency says the number of new homes started between January and May is off by almost 23-percent compared to the same period a year ago.

Moncton and Fredericton are bucking the trend with both posting gains over last year.

Red Hat Hoot Parade

Over 600 women are in town for the Red Hat Hoot in the Port City this weekend.

Members of the social group are coming from Maine, Nova Scotia and other parts of this province for the weekend conference.

Dawn Steeves is a Red Hatter and she tells CHSJ News the idea for the group came from a poem written by a woman back in 1931.

The entire group of Red Hatters will meet at King Square this morning at 10 for a parade down King Street to Market Square where they will be met by Mayor Ivan Court.

The conference wraps up on Sunday afternoon.

Bell Aliant Employees Turn Down Proposed Collective Agreement

Unionized workers at Bell Aliant in Atlantic Canada have turned down a proposed new collective agreement.
The workers are represented by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.

In a release, Bell Aliant President and CEO Karen Sheriff says they are disappointed in the results but, they have always said this process was about their employees making a choice and they have done that.

Sheriff adds they will have to move forward on alternative ways of reducing and managing their costs.
The current collective agreement between Bell Aliant and the C.E.P. members remains in effect until December 31, 2011.

New Wind Mills Arriving at the Port

If your commute to the office is an early one, something to keep in mind that could slow you down.


New sections of windmills will begin arriving at the Port on June.21st.


Every morning at six, five loads will travel along Lower Cove Loop to the intersection of Crown and Union, then on to Rothesay Avenue and out to the highway.


Some of the sections of windmill are 200 feet long so as you can imagine, they will take up a lot of roadway.



City Police will escort the equipment and it's expected the daily deliveries will continue until August.20th.

Four Teens In Custody After East Side Mischief

Four teenagers are in custody after 4 or 5 businesses in East Saint John were spraypainted around 3 this afternoon.
One of the those businesses hit with the paint is the Scotiabank on Westmoreland Road.


Officers are taking pictures and trying to establish exactly which businesses were hit.
No word on any charges yet.

Discussion Paper on Bullying

(Saint Johner's Gather at a Rally Against Bullying Recently)
                           (File Photo)

A discussion paper for public feedback has been released by the Department of Education on bullying in schools.

It is a lead-in to it's Summit on Bullying set to get started next Thursday in Fredericton with more than 100 students, parents, and educators will be on hand.

The goal of the summit is to have an open and informed discussion on bullying and how it is addressed in the school system.


The discussion paper will stay on the Department of Education website for two weeks after the summit to allow enough time for people to send in their comments.
 
To find the link, click here:

Lottery Fever Is Alive And Well

(Shirley Goudreau at the Brunswick Square Lotto Booth)
                   (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

What would you do with $50 million dollars?


That is a question people from coast to coast hope to answer with a winning ticket tonight for the Lotto Max Draw which for a second week has topped off at fifty million dollars.


Shirley Goudreau works at the lotto booth in Brunswick Square and tells CHSJ News, the traffic volume has been wild.


Goudreau says a lot of people who bought tickets have promised here they will be back to share if they have the winning ticket.

New Look in St. Andrews

When the silver shovels hit the dirt in St. Andrews this morning, it marked the start of construction for the new Discovery Centre.
Federal and Municipal politcians were on hand for the ceremony at the Huntsman Marine Science Center.
The new space is 20,000 square feet and replaces the existing aquarium complex and will feature a multiplex aquarium facility and a giant exhibit of the Bay of Fundy Tides.
Total cost of the project is eight million dollars and no word on when the new facility will be open for business.

District Eight Education Council And Parents

(District Eight Education Council Chair Rob Fowler)
                    (File Photo)

Even after holding a series of Town Hall style meetings earlier this year, the District Eight Education Council wants parents to become more involved.

DEC Chair Rob Fowler tells CHSJ News, the problem they struggle with is explaining what the role of Education Council is.


Fowler adds the DEC needs to get into the 21st century and make Facebook and Twitter more readily available for it's members and use a tool to communicate with parents or guardians.

Armed Robbery Suspect to Appear in Court

Armed Robbery with a knife is the charge a 44-year old man will answer to in court today.

This after City Police arrested him earlier this morning and charged him with the robbery of Needs Convenience store on Wednesday night.


Officers tell us the man was taken into custody on an un-related charge.

Alcohol and Dope Factors in Teenagers Deaths

Alcohol and dope are being pointed out by RCMP as two of the factors that killed three teenagers from Riverview back on May.29th.

A vehicle left the road on Route 905 in Forest Glen with five people in it and struck a tree.

Officers also point out no one in the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt and the three people killed, including the driver, had alcohol and marijuana in their systems.


Re-constructionist's have also determined the vehicle was going well over the posted speed limit of 80km/hour and the road was somewhat wet but rain didn't start until after the crash.

Legion In Oromocto Is Destroyed By Fire

(Oromocto Legion Before The Fire - photo submitted by a listener) 

       

The Town of Oromocto is in shock after losing it's Legion to fire last night.
It was spotted just before midnight and despite their best effort, fire crews could not save the building.


Mayor Faye Tidd lives directly behind where the building used to stand and tells CHSJ News, this is a massive loss for the community.


Tidd says she has no idea about what insurance if any the Legion might have but assures residents Town Officials will do what they can to help the facility rebuild.


No word at this point on how the fire started but RCMP is calling the fire suspicious.

Liberal M-L-A Abel Leblanc Acclaimed In Saint John Lancaster

(Saint John Lancaster M-L-A Abel Leblanc)
                    (File Photo)

A big turnout at the Assumption Centre on Chapel Street to see Liberal incumbant Abel Leblanc acclaimed without opposition to seek re-election in Saint John Lancaster. Leblanc says the Premier has taken a giant step forward in tackling the problem of poverty but more has to be done besides just raising the minimum wage. He says the most important thing for people struggling to get by is to retain their benefits.
Premier Shawn Graham calls Leblanc a defender of peoples' rights and rejects the charge from the Conservatives that his spending is out of control. He says that spending is necessary until private sector investment kicks in. The Premier also promises to provide one third of the funding needed of the 200 million dollars required to provide clean, safe drinking water for the city calling it the number of issue for Saint Johnners.
Leblanc says the Liberals have done alot more for Saint John than the previous Conservative government under then Premier Bernard Lord ever did.

Traffic Disruption Later Today

Traffic will shut down on Route 1 in both directions this afternoon as crews working on the One Mile interchange remove the rock wall from the closed Crown Street exit.
The disruption will last about 15 minutes at 2:00 this afternoon.
It's necessary because of blasting activities as part of the Route 1 One Mile House Interchange construction project. That project will take truck traffic out of the uptown core by diverting it along Bayside Drive onto the Industrial park.

Saint John Arts Awards Handed Out

Saint John honored it's finest and most creative artists during the inagural ""The Originals"" awards ceremony at the Imperial Theater last night. Ten winners walked home with the hardware including Suzanne Hill, Richard Kidd, Bob Doherty and Jack Bishop. The shows artistic director Judith Mackin tells CHSJ News, it was an incedible evening with support for the arts community growing.
Mackin adds the goal of the event is to make sure all of the creative talent in Greater Saint John is recognized and celebrated. Fred and Sheila Ross were honored during the show with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

School District 8 Breaks Even Thanks In Part To Mild Winter

The proposed budget for School District Eight is complete and comes in just over $95.3 million dollars. Director of Finance and Administration Chris Toole tells CHSJ news, the numbers show a zero balance for the fiscal year as they did find some savings last year with signifigant operational changes. He also credits the mild winter and stable oil prices.
Toole adds NB Power holding the line on its rates also helped out the bottom line in a big way.

Rothesay High Overcrowded

(School District 6 Superintendent Zoe Watson)
                      (File Photo)

A District 6 report showing how full schools are is showing a lack of space at Rothesay High School. The School has a 110% usage rate meaning, every space you can use as a classroom is already taken up. Superintendant Zoe Watson says four portable classrooms will be added to the school as a short term solution for now but an addition is the long term solution.
Rothesay is currently using the library for a homeroom class, the cafeteria for other classes and one lab is being used as a double classroom.

KVHS Reach For The Top Team At Ceremony

KVHS Reach For The Top Team Honoured

It's a year to remember for the Kennebecasis Valley High School Reach For the Top Team.

The Team is being honoured by Premier Shawn Graham for winning the national championships, and is receiving a $2000 dollar check from the province for expenses.

Coach Jason Thorne says the money will come in handy as travelling to Toronto for competitions gets expensive.

Premier Graham hails the team as some of the brightest minds in Canada.

Saint John Artists to be Honoured Tonight

A Gala Awards ceremony is coming up tonight at the Imperial Theatre honouring writers, musicians, actors and even businesses that supports the Arts in Saint John.
The event is part of Saint John's 225 birthday celebrations.


David Adams tells CHSJ News the night offers wide-ranging entertainment.

Adams say there are 11 categories in which hardware will be handed but, it also features several dance and music performances.


The Originals gets underway tonight at 7 at the Imperial Theatre.

Gas Leak Uptown

Fire Crews responding to Princess Street at Prince William this morning after people said they could smell a strong odour of gas.
District Fire Chief Ken Forrest tells CHSJ News they searched several building before finding the source of the natural gas leak.

Fire crews with help from Enbridge Gas tracked the source of the leak to the old Sebastian's on Princess Street which is currently under construction.
Four buildings were evacuated and traffic was blocked in the area for a time, the all-clear come about 10:30 this morning.

Minister Moore Makes Funding Announcement

(Fundy Royal MP and Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism Rob Moore)
                          (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

The Atlantic Canada Cruise Association on the receiving end of a $247,000 gift from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.


Fundy Royal MP and Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism Rob Moore was on hand to deliver the cheque.


Moore says the cash will be used for marketing and promotion of the industry.


Moore adds it is not only Saint John that is reeping the benefits of the cruise industry but ports from coast to coast.

Port Is Pleased With ACOA funding

      (Saint John Port Authority Captain Al Soppitt)
                            (File Photo)

Happy to see funding for marketing and promotion for the cruise industry is Captain Al Soppitt with the Saint John Port Authority.


Soppitt tells CHSJ News ther are other concerns as well with proposal in to Ottawa and Fredericton to strengthen the cruise sector with a berth expansion and other facility enhancements.


Soppitt adds ACOA has always been supportive of promotion for the cruise industry and today's announcement will keep momentum going.

New Party Speaks To Voter Frustrations

(Political Scientist Don Desserud of U-N-B Saint John)
                                 (File Photo)

The leader of the newest political party in the province is confident of winning seats in the September 27th election. Kris Austin, a 31 year old minister, leads the Peoples' Alliance of New Brunswick and tells CHSJ News there's an angry mood out there, in large part, because of the failed NB Power deal with Hydro Quebec. Auston believes voters are fed up with a political system they view as being broken. Austin says he would like the party to run candidates in all 55 ridings, if possible.
Meantime, the party could have an impact on the fall election according to University political scientist Don Desserud of NB Saint John who tells CHSJ News it speaks to a large percentage of voters who feel their interests are not being served and they are not being listened to.
While Desserud admires the party's pledge to hold free votes in the legislature, he is not sure that will work since politics is a team sport and politicians want to vote for their own team.

Major Crime Unit Investigates Armed Robbery

An armed holdup in the north end. City Police telling CHSJ news it took place around 10:30 last night in the Needs convenience store at the corner of Wellesley Avenue and Somerset Street. One man ran from the store with an undisclosed amount of money.

No Big Change With Gas Prices

If you have to fill up today, you'll be paying basically the same for gas as you did yesterday following the weekly setting. Self Serve regular is still selling in the city for 96.7 cents a litre. Diesel dropped by less than a cent to $1.00.1. The price of propane rose by just over a penny to $1.02.9 and furnace oil fell slightly to 87.3 cents a litre.

School District 6 Records Surplus For Year

(School District 6 Superinentendent Zoe Watson)
                       (File Photo)

The District 6 Budget is in at the end of another year and it shows a $94,000 dollar surplus. Superindentant Zoe Watson says it works because of a careful balancing act.
Watson their budget is generally 75 million dollars so while 94 grand may sound like a lot of money, it will only cover a small portion of next year's spending. Alot of the money went to buying schools Smart Boards, new blinds and lockers.

Union Expresses Concern Over New School In K-Park

CUPE Local 1253 is lobbying against schools that are owned by contractors instead of the government. Delalene Harris Forn is a bus driver for District 16 and says the new Kennebecasis Park Elementary School is going to be a P-3 school, meaning it won't be owned by the government. CUPE members say if things stay as they are, the custodians and maintenance staff won't be hired to work in the school but instead the jobs will be contracted out.
Harris Forn says the union is asking the District 6 Education Council to write a letter to the Minister of Education asking for K-Park to be a traditional school and not a P-3 school. Superintendant Zoe Watson says Council will discuss the issue in a closed session and look for further information.