City Called On To Develop Strategy On Arts And Culture

(Ward 3 Common Council Candidate Mark Leger)

                        (File Photo)

The time has come for Saint John to develop a strategy on arts and culture to build on the momentum of being designated a cultural capital of Canada this year.

That message being delivered by one of the candidates running in the December 13th byelection to fill the seat on Common Council left vacant when Carl Killen was elected as the M-L-A for Saint John Harbour.

Mark Leger tells CHSJ News he disagrees with those people who dismiss spending on arts and culture as a waste of money. Leger goes on to say culture is much more than just public art and can become a vital part of the local economy especially when cities are trying to attract people of creativity who work in the knowledge economy.

Taxpayers Watchdog Group Would Welcome Privatisation Of NB Liquor

There have been noises from the Alward Government about privatising NB Liquor.

Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation in the Atlantic Region tells CHSJ News this would be a good step for all concerned. He predicts if NB Liquor were privatised, there would be more competitition, better service for consumers and government revenues would actually increase as a result.

Given the size of the deficit, Lacey can see the province privatising more of its assets such as the iconic Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrews.

Continuing Testimony In Murder Case

There was more eyewitness testimony at the 2nd degree murder trial of 28 year old Crystal Dawn McKenzie who's charged in the stabbing death of her common law husband, 29 year old Patrick Thomas.

Two people who live at 260 Waterloo Street told the court what they saw in the early morning of March 15th.

Both say they heard yelling in the street and saw McKenzie being pinned against a wall and dragged along Alma Street by the hair before emerging from an apartment building on Alma Street with a knife raised above her shoulder.

The court was told there was a struggle before the man fell to the ground.

Both of the witnesses testified McKenzie was friendly, nice and not violent.

Several Arrests Made By RCMP

The case appears to have been cracked by Hampton RCMP in connection with a string of break, enter and thefts in the St. Martins area over the past few weeks.

Three men and a teenager have been arrested after a search warrant was executed at a home in Baxter's Corner where stolen property was found.

Officers also recovered several other items, ride on lawn mowers, tools and liquor, not related to the search.

A 23-year old man is due in Sussex court today with other people arrested to appear before a judge in the coming weeks.

RCMP expect to make other arrests related to the crimes.

Hestia House Says No To Used Goods For Now

Used goods are no longer being accepted at Hestia House due to the recent out-break of bed bugs around the Province.

Director Elaine Northrup tells CHSJ News, this is a direct hit to it's residents who are looking for clothing and furniture to set up an apartment with.
Northrup says the shelter has not been hit with bed-bugs and by putting this measure in place, they hope to keep it that way.

Lung Association promoting Awareness

10 per cent of people over the age of 40 could have COPD and not even know it.

The Lung Association is promoting the spirometry tests to diagnose the disorder.

Director of Health Promotion Barbara Walls tells CHSJ News, they are trying to create awareness of the simple test.


Walls add COPD commonly afflicts long-time smokers even if they have quit for a period of years.

Tele-Care Now Available For Those With Disability

Modern technology has taken another step forward for anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing.

Access is now available to Tele-Care with TTY systems for anyone who suffers from either condition to use the telephone to communicate by typing messages.


Tele-Care is a provincewide, 24-hour, toll-free bilingual service that provides a range of health-related information, including advice and assistance on how best to get health-care services for specific needs.

Deadline Nears For By-election Nominations

Nominations close tomorrow for the December 13th municipal by-elections here in the city and in Grand Bay-Westfield.
So far -- four people have filed nomination papers for the vacant Ward 3 seat -- John Campbell - Mark Leger - Anne-Marie Mullin - and - Danny Robichaud.
In Grand Bay-Westfield there are three official candidates for the vacant council seat -- Stephen Evans - Mike Likely - and - Allen Titus.
Nomination papers must be filed by tomorrow afternoon at two.

New Brunswick's Belt Continues to Add Notches

(NB Health Council CEO Stephane Robichaud)
                   (File Photo)

Health behaviours are getting worse in the province -- that according to the second Population Health Snapshot by the New Brusnwick Health Council.

Council CEO Stéphane Robichaud tells CHSJ News, we are the most obese province.


However, this province ranks second in the country when it comes to having a regular medical doctor.

Robichaud adds the province has a high number of doctors per capita and good public access.

Discussing Arts And Culture

Finding out how to include culture into building design is the focus of a panel discussion tonight.

It's part of the cultural capital of Canada speaker series which is included in the Saint John 225 celebrations.

Executive Director of the Saint John Arts Center Heather White-Britain tells CHSJ News, tonight's talk is the last in the series.


The Building By Design panel discussion features Steve Carson of Enterprise Saint John and Jaqueline Hamilton of Plan SJ and gets started at 7 at the Saint John Arts Centre.

Petroleum Products On The Rise

As predicted, the price of gasoline, diesel, propane and furnace oil are all up.

The Energy and Utilities Board has released it's latest weekly price setting which shows the maximum retail for unleaded gasoline is $105.2, diesel comes in at $111.9, furnace oil is selling for 92.1 a litre and propane tops off at 97.8.


Most gas stations in the metro have a listed pump price of $105.2.

City Releases Garbage Totals From Area Where Most Saint Johnners Get Their Drinking Water

It cost the city over 26 hundred dollars at the landfill just to get rid of all the garbage that was collected in the cleanup around the Loch Lomand watershed last week where most people in this city get their drinking water.

The city reports it collected more than 23 and a half metric tons of trash. That amounts to 52 thousand pounds of garbage.

The junk included a pool table, couches, tires, scrap metal, heating oil tanks, oil containers, mini propane tanks and diapers.

Two Possible Locations Mentioned For K-V Skateboard Park

(Skateboard Park Chair Robin Parks)
      (Photo by Brian McLain)

The committee formed to get a skateboard park built in the Kennebecasis Valley has a couple of possible locations in mind. Committee chair Robin Parks tells CHSJ News being close to the Q-Plex and at the Culture Park by the town hall come to mind right off the bat.

Having a location in mind is one thing but then comes the hard part.........Where will the $500 thousand come from to build it? Parks is hoping for business sponsorships, government funding and money from fundraisers.

She goes on to say Rothesay Regional Police are on board because they're tired of getting calls about young people skateboarding where they shouldn't and parents are getting fed up with having to take their children to skateboard parks in Saint John and Moncton. It's estimated there are 800 regular skateboaders in the valley.

Parks says if there is enough land, as part of the project, basketball courts and even a splash pad could be added later on.

Christmas Card For Troops In Afghanistan Vandalised In Market Square

(Christmas Card At Market Square Kiosk To Be Sent To Troops)
                 (Photo by Brian McLain)

Some fool with a black felt marker has vandalised the large Christmas card at the Market Square kiosk that people were signing for the troops in Afghanistan.

Some sort of grafitti type marking was scrawled on the inside of the card. Artist Norm Jackson came up with the idea of the card and tells CHSJ News he's disappointed.

Jackson is hoping he can clean the card up but concedes some of the names and messages might be lost.

He's urging those who signed the inside to come down and have a look to see if their names and messages are lost. If so, they can sign again once the card is cleaned up.

A Call For An Increase In Social Assitance

The cry for more cash for those on social assistance can be heard coming the Common Front For Social Justice. Spokes-person Aurea Cormier tells CHSJ News, the Alward Government must realize the rate isn't competitive:

She says it's one of the lowest if not the lowest in the country and it's long overdue that it be adjusted.


Cormier points out that between 2006 and this year, basic items like eggs went up by 21.9%, cheese 36.7%, rice by 42.6% and flour by 84.9%.

Armoured Car Workers Going Back To Work

After months of walking picket lines around the Province, members of the Teamsters Union are going back to work.

Armoured Car Workers with G4S Secor Cor Cash Solutions have voted 85% in favor of accepting the latest offer from the company. The vote was held earlier today but no details are being released until it has been ratified.
Workers hit the picket lines over two months ago over several issues including a wage increase, saying no to current and new employee’s being subject to a polygraph test and looking for back wages from the previous contract.

Management has been filling since the strike began and employees are expected to be back on the job with-in weeks.

Premier Plans To Keep Campaign Promise to Seniors

(Premier David Alward)

The Premier says it's full steam ahead with his property tax freeze for seniors over the age of 65.

David Alward tells CHSJ News it's an important campaign promise that he intends on keeping.

He says he doesn't have a date for the freeze in place yet but wants to make it happen as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Saint John Mayor Ivan Court says such a freeze would sap millions from the city coffers and makes planning municipal budgets problematic.

Eyewitness Testimony In Alma Street Stabbing Case

Eyewitness testimony was delivered at the second degree murder trial of 27 year old Crystal Dawn McKenzie who's charged in the stabbing death of her of her common law husband, 29 year old Patrick Thomas, back in March.

A neighbour in the Alma Street apartment building where they lived testified McKenzie ran into her bedroom out of sorts, saying she wasn't going to take it anymore. 

McKenzie grabbed a broom and after scrapping on Waterloo Street where she was put in a headlock by Thomas, McKenzie went back into the apartment and got hold of a knife.  She then stabbed him in the neck and shoulder while he was choking in her in the doorway.

Saint John Police Kept Busy This Morning

The search is on for two men in their twenties after a home invasion in the South End this morning.
It was just before two o'clock when a man was woken up by a knock on his door at 240 Duke Street.
Two masked men with a weapon greeted the 26-year old and demanded dope and cash.


He told them he had neither, so they grabbed his Blackberry, charger and DVD's.


Nobody was hurt.


Then roughly about a half n hour later, City Police were called to the parking lot at 411 Ellerdale Street East to find a man unconscious.
He was taken to the Regional where he remains getting looked over.
 
No word on what happened but Major Crime has been called in.

Construction At Sussex Mine Continues

Construction of the new Potash Corporation Mine in Sussex continues to make steady progress.


General Manager Mark Frachia tells CHSJ News, there are close to 1000 people working on site and that number is expected to grow to close to 1200 in the new year.

Frachia adds a dispute with the contractor working on the compaction plant has been resolved and it's expected it will be finished early in the new year and commissioned by January.

As for the rest of the project, salt mining is still on schedule to begin in 2012 and potash the following year.