Thousands Are Without Power

Over 8000 people in the province are without power today.

In Fredericton, more than 4000 NB Power customers are without electricity.
 
More than 900 customers in Woodstock are in the dark, 500 people in Dairytown do not have juice and it's the same story for over 300 folks in St. Stephen.

In a release,  a spokesperson for the Utility tells CHSJ News that due to the weather conditions and the high number of incidents they cannot predict when the power will be restored adding it will be sometime in the next 24 to 36 hours.

 To see a current list of outages, click here

Slick Roads Lead To Collisions

Be careful when you are out and about today, roads in the City and beyond are slippery.

City police are busy with a few collisions around town including Foster Thurston Road, Samuel Davis Drive.
Police are directing traffic in the area.

A tractor-trailer has jackknifed near Five Fathom Hole on Highway 1 near Musquash.

Earlier this morning, there was a collision between a dump truck and a car on Golden Grove Road and McGill Road. 

We hear the side streets and sidewalks in Saint John are slick today as well.

School Closing Early

The Anglophone South School District announcing Fundy Shores school will closing today at 11:30.

More Number Crunching Needed In Quispamsis

A 241 thousand dollar cut in provincial funding has caused Quispamsis Town Council to delay finalisation of next year's budget. 

Mayor Murray Driscoll tells CHSJ News the cut was deeper than the town anticipated and the loss can only be made up through taxation. He quickly adds that doesn't necessarily mean the town's tax rate will be going up but a review is underway.


Driscoll says the province plans further funding reductions, not just next year, but in the two years after that which means the overall cut, when it's all said and done, will be significant.

The town's budget will be unveiled at a special meeting January 8th.

Doucet Aims To Amend Emergency Measures Act

The Liberal MLA for Charlotte the Isles says we need to be better prepared for an emergency.
 
Rick Doucet says the problem under the current Emergency Measures Act is response plans are not required until a state of emergency is declared.
 
Doucet introducing a bill in the provincial legislature that would make it mandatory for areas with dams to have a plan before trouble comes.

He says this amendment is intended to help people have confidence in the steps that will be taken in an emergency by the operators of the dam.
The operators of the dam will be able to point to their plan to be sure they did their part to minimize any type of damage.

Doucet says he doesn't want people to think this amendment will end flood damage, but it will assure people that the dam operators will put their plans into effect at just the right time.

Two years ago this week, many communities in Charlotte County were submerged under 174 mm of rain.

Clarification On Port Traffic Numbers

The Saint John Port Authority says traffic through the port is down only four percent to the end of November compared to last year - but - port president Jim Quinn tells CHSJ News there is a silver lining.
Quinn says the number of container ships calling on the port is up 39-percent so far this year and so is the number of containers moving through the port.
A CHSJ News story earlier today referred to a recent report released by the Atlantic Pilotage Authority suggesting port traffic was down 10-percent to the end of September led by a significant decline in the number of oil tankers calling .
Quinn says those numbers could be skewed because some of the tanker captains making regular calls to the port are licensed pilots and don't have to call on the pilotage authority.
Quinn says even though crude oil is now coming in by rail from the west contributing to a slight decline in tanker traffic - the refined products are still being going out by ship through the Courtney Bay terminals.

No Insurance, No Problem?

New Brunswick's 150,000 people with no health insurance might have an easier time of it now that the provincial government is looking closely at how to provide coverage for everyone.

The recommendations in the report include subsidies for low income families, no barriers to access or waiting period, and coverage of approved drugs that are assessed through standard drug review processes.

Health Minister Ted Flemming says they've studied plans elsewhere and consulted with the public, and will work toward implementing an insurance plan as quickly as possible.

Rain for SJ & Snow for the KV

If you live in the KV, get ready for a late fall wallop.  
Snow and lots of it is on the way today and tonight.

Environment Canada meteorologist Claude Cote tells CHSJ News the Kennebecasis Valley is under a snowfall warning with the brunt of the storm coming late tonight and overnight.

He says conditions will improve by noon tomorrow or early afternoon but not before the KV receives up to 30 centimetres of snow.

Cote adds along the Fundy coast there is a rainfall warning in effect with about 12 millimeters tonight and it may be mixed with snow as the temperature reaches the freezing mark.   The Saint John area could see up to 10 centimetres of wet snow before it wraps up tomorrow.
He tells us we will get a break on Thursday but another system is moving in on Friday that will bring more rain.

NB Liquor Announces Holiday Hours

Want to make sure you get your holiday tipples on time? NB Liquor is announcing its hours through to the beginning of 2013.


Sunday, Dec. 23: Open noon to 5 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 24: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 25: Closed
Wednesday, Dec. 26: Closed
Thursday, Dec. 27, to Sunday, Dec. 30: Regular operating hours
Monday, Dec. 31: Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013: Closed
Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013: Regular hours resume
 
The 73 agency stores may open all days except Dec. 25. Hours may vary by location. 

City Debates Filling Vacant Jobs

There's been some controversy around the council horseshoe over whether to fill 3 positions in the finance department at city hall that have been left vacant by retirements.

Common Councillor Bill Farren says there's no way city hall can think about filling those positions given the city's dire financial situation.

Commissioner of finance Greg Yeomans, on the other hand, says he's already working with a skeleton crew and the jobs are vital tothe continued smooth operation of the city.

Horse Rescue Program A Finalist In Aviva Competition

A unique community project that not only helps abused horses but troubled youth has a chance of truly growing and expanding it's reach.


Earth Spirit Horse Rescue's "Compassion Project" is a finalist in the Aviva Community Fund, a competition which gives away a million dollars to various Canadian projects that make a positive change in their community. After months of public voting, it's now up to judges to decide if the Compassion Project will receive up to $100,000.

The 3-year-old non-profit group rents a barn in Quispamsis that helps with abused horses and teaches troubled youth life skills. Executive director Christy Clark tells CHSJ news they completely depend on volunteers and donations, and winning the money would completely improve and expand their work. She says the money would go towards building a new stable of their own, which would include a quarantined stall for rescued horses to recover in and a loft as a classroom for youth programs. 

The youth don't learn how to ride, but how to care for horses which in turn teaches leadership skills, self confidence and even awareness of bullying. Clark says it also benefits the horses who are too old to be ridden. She says the results of the program are phenomenal, adding she's received calls from parents, teachers and councilors that the kids are changed forever. 

The winners will be announced January 29th.

To learn more about the Aviva Community Fund, click here.

To learn more about Earth Spirit Horse Rescue, click here.

Online Platform To Help Doctors Treating Diabetics

The Alward government is rolling out a new program that will help doctors and others work together online to improve care for diabetics.

Health Minister Ted Flemming says the new Diabetes NB CoPosis will improve the management of the disease by enhancing the information and level of collaboration available for doctors around the globe.

Doctors can enrol through the Department of Health's website with the online learning modules starting in January covering a range of topics including
effective management of renal disease and complications in diabetes.   

Doctors can post comments, articles in a secure virtual community.
The online platform, CoPosis, was developed by the University of Alberta Centre for Health Evidence.

For more info click here and here

Bay Of Fundy Ferry Crossings Cancelled

Bay Ferries letting us know all sailings today of the Princess of Acadia are cancelled because of the high winds.

Child Bitten By Dog

A toddler suffered a dog bite on the west side and there reportedly was alot of bleeding. It occurred on Duck Cove Lane. 

City Police describe it as unintentional but do say the city's bylaw enforcement officer will likely investigate the circumstances.

No Budget Yet

A few hills remain to be climbed in the city's 2013 budget process.

The vote on the budget has been bumped ahead until at least mid week, pending quotes from local firm Owens MacFadyen on the interim, or bridging numbers for long term-disability payments as well as how the payouts will work on a more permanent basis.

LTD isn't taken into account under the Shared Risk model currently being contemplated for the pension plan, and Mayor Mel Norton likens it to a series of dominoes in that council first requires the long term disability numbers, then ratify a Memorandum of Understanding, then finally approve the budget after that.

The ballpark figure being cited for the so-called bridge benefits is $75,000 and $100,000 monthly, but that's just until something more permanent is worked out. They're hoping to get the quotes within the next day or two and meet again on Wednesday; however, that doesn't mean the capital nudget will be done before early 2013.

New Lampposts Going Up On Union Street

New lampposts are going up on Union Street in the area of Peel Plaza.

Oil Pipeline Gets Support From Port

The president and CEO of the Saint John Port Authority is enthused about the idea of a west to east coast oil pipeline.

Jim Quinn tells CHSJ news he thinks the timing is perfect to debate and discuss a pipeline that would bring Alberta oil to Saint John for global export. Quinn believes this is a real opportunity for not only Saint John but for the province and Canada. 

He agrees with Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver's opinion that exporting oil globally and diversifying our market would be a great benefit. Oliver announced in Saint John last week that Canada only exports oil to the United States, and shipping oil globally is in Canada's national interests.

Our Chances Of A White Christmas

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas?

According to the latest stats from Environment Canada, Saint John has a 45% chance of the white stuff by December 25th.

They also say Fredericton has a slight better chance of having snow with 55%, whereas Moncton has a 65% chance. The chance of Port City having a perfect Christmas (snow on the ground while it falls) is 36%.

If you want a guaranteed white Christmas, head on up to Yellowknife and Whitehorse where a chance of snow is 100%.

Environment Canada analyzed 57 years of weather records to find out the probability of snow.

RCMP Seek Info On Woman Who Was Found Dead In Tent

RCMP releasing the photo of the woman who was found dead in a tent just north of Fredericton last month in hopes that someone will come forward with information that could help police in their investigation.

The body of Susan Lynn Burnside was found November 24th near the Penniac Bridge, but police believe her body had been there for at least a year. Police are still unsure how she died but say there were no signs of foul play.

This photo is the most recent of Burnside, although it was taken 15 years ago when she was 41. She was originally from Saint John but had lost touch with her family and was considered a transient with no fixed address.

Anyone with any information or who may have had contact in the past few years with Susan Lynn Burnside is asked to contact the RCMP at 1-888-506-RCMP (7267) or anonymously through N.B. Crime Stoppers online at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Our Listeners Weigh In On Clearing Sidewalks

The idea of homeowners being responsible for clearing sidewalks in front of their homes is not winning any fans on our Facebook page.

Nick calls it a very bad idea saying residents don't own the sidewalk in front of the house, the city does and it likely wouldn't be completely shoveled or salted so you would see more people slipping and falling.

He adds how can you expect poor elderly people to go out in the cold and shovel a sidewalk and break a hip just to save the city a buck.

Maranda goes to school in Halifax and says its a by-law there.
From her view, it works very well but she lives on a street without sidewalk.

She adds there are often patches of sidewalk downtown that are not shoveled within the 24 hours after a snowfall but its easy to walk through because the city comes around and plows back the remainer of the snow.

She thinks it's unreasonable to think that the city can plow ever sidewalk in the 24 hours after the snowfall.

Add your voice to the chat, click here  

Trial Date Set For Man Charged In Deadly Home Invasion

A court appearance for a 21 year old man who was stabbed, himself, and then charged after a home invasion on the lower west side back in early November where he lives.

Christopher Reid of 341 Prince Street has pleaded not guilty and will go on trial September 25th on a charge of possessing a knife.

Two other men and a 16 year old youth are accused of trying to rob 341 Prince Street. 18 year old A-J Dennison died after he was stabbed and a warrant is still outstanding for the arrest of 21 year old Bradley Saia.

City Could Save Big Bucks With Bylaw On Sidewall Clearing

The suggestion that homeowners in the city take responsibility for clearing show from sidewalks in front of their properties is generating a lot of comment, both pro and con on our Facebook page.

It's estimated the city could save 80 thousand dollars a year if homeowners were required to shovel the snow in front of their houses.

The city's Transportation Commissioner Bill Edwards warns Common Council, the idea likely would not be embraced by everyone around town. He points out the city already clears 61 per cent of the sidewalks around town and still gets dozens and dozens of complaints about not doing enough of them.

Consultant Todd MacDonald, who pointed out the potential savings, concedes it's a sensitve issue.

CCNB Announces New Exec. Director

The Conservation Council of New Brunswick has a new executive director.


Céline Delacroix replaces David Coon -- who's now the provincial leader of the green party -- to lead the environmental action group.

Delacroix tells CHSJ news she wants to shake the image of the CCNB and be more of an advocate for more policies and programs instead of just being an opponent. She says she'd like the group to appeal to more New Brunswickers and show how hard CCNB works. Delacroix wants to engage in more positive actions such as campaigns and finding true solutions to environmental challenges. 

Her #1 goal is to increase membership, but also engage more with the government to develop environmental policies.

Common Council Told City Could Save Money If Homeowners Shovelled Their Sidewalks

The city has been told if it wants to reduce overtime and save some money, Common Council should pass a bylaw requiring homeowners to shovel the snow in front of their properties. 

Todd MacDonald of Performance Concepts Consulting says the city would then be able to concentrate more on removing snow from sidewalks in the downtown core as well as near schools and the hospitals.
 
MacDonald says this is the trend in other parts of the country where there has been alot of voluntary compliance but also some court challenges and the results have been mixed. He adds there would have to be public consultation and concedes it might be a tough sell.

City Budget Vote Expected Tonight

Common Council is scheduled to vote on the 2013 city budget tonight with no increase in the tax rate. 

Common Councillor Bill Farren wants to see more money for lifeguards so they'll be on duty through the Labour Day weekend. Farren also says the city needs an upgrade to the Trade and Convention Centre and not in six or 7 years time.

When it comes to a proposed boost of 1.2 million dollars to the public transit budget, Ward 3 Common Councillor Donnie Snook believes it'll bring back ridership which has declined by 15 per cent since the cutbacks.

Common Councillor John MacKenzie would like to see the city generating more revenue to offset costs.

Investigations Launched Into A Pair Of Fires

Photo courtesy of Doug Epton

Two fires last night are under investigation to determine how they got started.

Acting Platoon Chief Roy Byers says the first one broke out around 7:30 on the east side destroying a storage shed at 105 Westmorland Road. The heat from that fire was so intense the siding on two nearby homes melted.
 
As fire crews were cleaning up from that, a call came in about another fire in a large warehouse at 62 St. James Street. There was significant smoke, fire and water damage to the building but no one was injured. Fire crews were on the scene for five hours.

Learning Exchange Launches Cleaning Business

The Saint John Learning Exchange is embarking on a new venture..a residential cleaning company called Voila.
Executive Director Christina Fowler tells CHSJ News a thorough business plan identified a real need in the community with busy families.

She says this company will enable them to bring in different streams of revenue and also employs two former learners get employment at a living wage which serves their goal of getting people out of poverty and create employment.

Fowler says marketing and finding customers is a new challenge for the Exchange but they are doing it.   For more info, click here

Losier Says RVCC Tax Benefits The Whole Community

If people aren't thrilled about user fees, Grand Bay-Westfield Mayor Grace Losier says now is the chance to put their two cents in.

Residents of 6 local service districts are voting next month on whether to keep supporting the River Valley Community Centre. Some are upset since they don't use it, while others want to keep paying the taxes so user fees are low.


Losier says even if you're not directly using the arena, the whole community benefits by having this kind of facility. She says it draws young families into the area and keeps youth out of trouble. Losier says the proposed rate of $26 on a $100,000 home isn't a lot to ask, considering if the tax was dropped the user fees would increase dramatically.

Information sessions are happening this week until the vote on January 7th.

Frozen Beef Burgers Recall Might Expand

Officials say they might expand a Canada-wide recall of frozen beef burgers contaminated with E. coli.

The recall covers Butchers' Choice Beef Burgers made by Cardinal Meat Specialists in Brampton, Ontario and sold by Loblaws stores -- which owns Superstore.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is trying to determine if 5 illnesses in Alberta and Ontario are linked to the products.

The agency says the five patients have either recovered, or are recovering.  
For more information, click here.

Xmas Fire Safety Tips Might Surprise You

Though the idea of "hanging the stockings by the chimney with care" sounds festive, it's actually a big fire hazard.

That's according to Saint John Fire Division Chief Mark Wilson, who says there a few steps you can take to have a happy and safe holiday.

Wilson advises you to buy fresher Christmas trees, which tend to be more moisture rich unlike dry ones which can ignite faster. For decorations, use ones that are flame retardants and are out of reach of small kids and animals.

A big no-no is using indoor lights outside or vise versa. Outdoor lights are too hot for indoors and indoor lights lack weather proofing connections. Before you use your lights, you should lay them out and check for any cracks in wiring or in the bulbs.

Don't leave candles unattended and make sure they're in a study holder.

And the biggest mistake people make? Throwing torn apart Christmas wrapping into the wood stove or fireplace. Wilson says that creates too much heat in a short period of time and results in chimney fires. He says very quickly the temperature can go from 200 degrees to 8 or 900 degrees.

True Growth 2.0 Support Grows

True Growth 2.0 is getting full support from communities in Greater Saint John.

The initiative, steered by Enterprise Saint John, is a regional development strategy to develop our business and culture. When it started in 2003 it focused on improving 4 sectors (energy, health and life sciences, tourism, and ICT) but now it's hoping to attract and keep new people to the region.

The town of Rothesay is committing $86,000 a year for 3 years, or about $3,000 a year more than before. Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ news economic development is the answer to improving our way of life and getting more tax dollars. He says if Saint John grows, it benefits the outlying communities.

Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll agrees, saying if more business is brought to Saint John more people will move to Quispmasis. Driscoll says True Growth 2.0 has such a healthy attitude and provides fresh opportunities for the region. He says when that happens you can expect better things to come.

Car Accident Traps Two Women

Photo courtesy of Joseph Comeau

Two women being sent to hospital after a two car accident on the corner of Carmarthen and Union street last night.

Saint John Fire Department Platoon Chief Roy Byers tells CHSJ news the two women were trapped in an SUV that was flipped on it's side. Fire crews managed to pull the roof off and free the two.

The accident happened around 8 o'clock.

Update On Yesterdays Fire At Fuel Storage Facility

There's no damage to the environment, injuries or other damage involved in yesterdays fire at a large storage facility containing 15,000 tons of petroleum coke (or pet coke).

After 12:30 yesterday afternoon fire crews, Saint John Port Authority, Department of Environment and NB Power were on scene responding to the fire at 12 King street West, Pier 2.

Acting Platoon Chief Roy Byers says there was a metre square burning at the base of an 11,000 ton of pet coke. The material is used as fuel by NB Power during peak demand times. The huge fuel and combustible covering the warehouse was a major concern but crews managed to safely put the fire out.

Fire crews were on scene for 5 hours.

Police Making Arrests In Market Square Fiasco

City Police arresting 4 men in their twenties last night after a scuffle by Market Square.

The men are charged with possessing a knife, causing a disturbance and assaulting a police officer. Police say one of the men will appear in court this morning while the others will have an appearance in January.

No one was hurt in the incident. Police say alcohol was a factor.

City Church Celebrates Dickens' 200th Birthday

Dickens & Christmas go together like egg nog and shortbread.

To celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, Trinity Anglican Church will be reading his works celebrating the man who gave us the Yuletide classic A Christmas Carol.  

David Goss tells CHSJ News when he was in London a couple of years ago he discovered that Dickens has ties to Saint John that many people don't know about. 

He says those connections will be revealed to those who attend this weekend.

Events include readings tonight by 15 different people, A free turkey dinner hosted by Club Hope of Saint John High will be held tomorrow along with a screening of A Christmas Carol tomorrow night.   More events continue on Sunday.

For more info, call 693-8558.  

All the events are happening at Trinity Anglican Church on Charlotte Street.

Keir Gets A New Post

Former Provincial Energy Minister Jack Keir has a new job.    Grace Losier announcing Keir will be the new Executive Director of Region 9 as of January 1st.
Losier is the chairperson of the Regional Service Commission.

Losier says Jack has a great understanding of the issues in urban and rural New Brunswick adding he'll be a valuable asset to the commission.

12 Regional Service Commissions have been established to increase regional collaboration and enhance long-term strategic planning.

Units Will Be Replaced At NB Heart Centre

Next year's Health Department budget includes funding to replace two imaging units at the New Brunswick Heart Centre in the Regional Hospital.

Health Minister Ted Flemming tells CHSJ News the units in the cardiac catheterization lab are nearing the end of their useful life after a refurbishment 11 years ago.

The equipment uses specialized x-ray equipment that help doctors place stents in precise locations in heart arteries guiding them to ensure they get to the right place.

Flemming adds this equipment is critical to saving lives.

Ski Season Starts Tomorrow

Attention, snow bunnies and boarders: it's that time of year again!

Poley Mountain is opening tomorrow for the season after having been manufacturing snow since the end of November. General Manager Bill Anderson tells CHSJ News even if you're a total newbie there's something for you to enjoy at Poley, including ski camps for kids and ski school for adults.

The Chute, Snow White and Lazy Way will all be open tomorrow. Anderson says this is the earliest they've been able to open for a few years, because of last winter's weirdly warm temperatures.

BREAKING: Smouldering Petroleum Coke Leads To Alarm At Port

There's been an incident this afternoon in the pet coke shed at Forterm on the West Side of the Port.

Pet coke, or petroleum coke, is a by-product of Coleson Cove's oil refinery coker. The pile of the substance began to smoulder around 1 this afternoon.

Acting Platoon Chief Roy Byers tells CHSJ News the elevated temperatures aren't likely to progress to anything more serious. The Department of Environment, Coleson Cove, and port officials remain on scene for much of the afternoon as the damage is assessed. 

There's no immediate danger and no reported injuries.

Pension Reform Continues To Be Hot Topic

Pension reform is a hot topic these days in the Port City and beyond--and the provincial government will host a pan-Canadian summit in 2013 to look at how governments can address pension issues.

The two-day summit will tackle challenging questions related to the future of public and private sector pensions. Human Resources Minister Troy Lifford says NB's Shared Risk Model has become of great interest to other municipalities because it offers employees better protection and reduces liabilities for taxpayers.

Executive-Director Of The Boys And Girls Club Has New Job

Debbie Cooper, who has been the Executive-Director of the Saint John Boys and Girls Club, is moving on up to a new job.

Cooper will be the Regional Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. Cooper sees lots of potential for further development and improvement of what the Boys and Girls Clubs can offer such as early childhood education.

Cooper warns community groups are being asked these days to do alot more but without adequate support, there comes a breaking point.
She will be based in Saint John but do alot of travelling throughout the region.

Work Continues On Peel Plaza Parking Garage

Construction continues on the Peel Plaza Parking garage between Station, Sewell and Carleton Streets.

Drug Bust By Mounties In Oromocto

A man in his 30's arrested after a drug bust at a home in Youngs Cove. 

The RCMP in Oromocto say they confiscated 125 marijuana plants, several pounds of dried pot, contraband smokes, drug paraphernalia and cash.
 
The accused will be appearing in court at a later date.

Recall Of Beef Burgers Expands

More beef burgers are being recalled by Loblaw, which owns the Superstore, because of possible e. coli contamination. 

This latest recall affects Butcher's Choice Hickory Barbecue Beef Burgers with best-before dates of Feb. 1st and Feb. 10th.
   
Earlier, it was announced Butcher's Choice Garlic Peppercorn Beef Burgers with a best-before date of March 3rd were being recalled.

City Must Reach Understanding With Unions On Long-Term Disability

The issue of long term disability benefits is presenting a bit of a bump in the road in common council's efforts to adopt the Shared Risk Model for its pension plan.

Council has accepted on principle a Memorandum of Understanding with the city's unionized groups, on the condition the issue of long term disability gets sorted out by Monday. 

Commissioner of Finance Greg Yeomans tells CHSJ News they need to look at the cost as plan members age and transition to a regular pension. The issue is something for which the Shared Risk model does not provide.

Council will meet with unionized groups and consult with potential bridge benefits with insurance companies over the weekend. An update will be provided on Monday, which is also when a vote is expected on the 2013 budget.

LSD Residents Debate User Fees Vs. Taxes

People in the 6 local service districts who use the River Valley Community Centre in Grand Bay Westfield are up in arms over a provincial plan to keep taxing them to use it or have them pay user fees.  

The facility's mortgage was paid off in July of 2011. 
Residents were upset about the lack of publicity with the previous vote on the matter. 

A letter from the province informing them of six information sessions arrived in their mail recently.

Brenda Rathburn who lives in Westfield West tells CHSJ News almost 12 thousand people pay taxes for the arena but only 180 people actually use it.

She says if you use it they don't mind paying a decent user fee but it you don't use people shouldn't have it taken out of their taxes.

A community session is coming up tonight at the Nerepis United Baptist Church at 7pm.
Another vote will be held January 7th.

Celebrating Learners With Turkey

The staff, board, volunteers and students of the Saint John Learning Exchange hosting their annual turkey dinner at Stone Church.
Executive Director Christina Fowler tells CHSJ News she loves doing the dinners.

She says they do it because they want to give back to the community for their partners and learners after another year of hard work.

Fowler adds the Learning Exchange does a lot involving food including some catering so its a good to celebrate and give back.

Tories Announce $280 Million For Transportation

The province announcing nearly $280 million dollars for buildings, bridges, highways, rural roads and equipment in the new Transportation budget.

The projects include over $12 million for the Route 7 Welsford Bypass, $10 million for work on the Harbour Bridge and more than 7 million for the One Mile House Interchange project in Saint John.

The department will also invest $44 million dollars into rural roads.

Common Council Told What's Needed To Get Rid Of Dangerous Buildings

Common Council will have more money to work with next year because of pension reform with the big question being where that will be spent.

Council has been told alot more could be done to deal with vacant and dilapidated buildings around the city with more funding. Council members appear to be receptive to that argument.

Buildings that are unoccupied and falling down have become inviting targets for arsonists.

City Building Inspector Amy Poffenroth would like to see funding returned to what it was in 2011 when 67 cases were resolved with either demolition or renovation.

She also says when the city adopts a more aggressive approach to getting rid of dangerous buildings, landlords get the message and either demolish or fix up.

Women's World Curling Championships Coming To Town

Hurry! Hard!

The 2014 Ford World Curling Championships will be held in Saint John's very own Harbour Station.

The event will run March 15-23. It's the first time the Port City has hosted a world championship since 1999.