School District 8 May Use Red Cross Anti-Bullying Program

In an effort to stop and protect students from bullying, School District 8 is mulling over implementing an anti-bullying program created by The Red Cross.

Stacy Coy is with the Red Cross and she tells CHSJ News the program is effective because not only do students teach the program to their peers, it promotes a lot of dialogue.
 
She says research shows that youth involvement is the most effective strategy as they know they the ins and outs of the bullying problem.

School Districts 6 and 18 have already used the program.

Two Local Restaurants Get Filmed For The Food Network

Two local restaurants will be before the lens of the Food Network's cameras -- the Saint John Ale House and the Urban Deli will be filmed for the new program "You Gotta Eat Here" over the next few days.

Ale House owner Peter Stoddart tells CHSJ News they were chosen because they're always doing fun and funky things with their menu, such as their lobster roll that uses the meat of an entire lobster and their 42 ounce prime rib challenge.

He says the show will also be looking at their ingredients, the process of making their food, and interviews with fans of the Ale House.

Group Home Workers To Be Out Of Work And Are Worried About Clients

The union representing group home workers is calling out the Social Development Minister for reinstatement of funding.

CUPE spokesperson Vallie Stearns tells CHSJ News 27 workers received notice last week that they will be out of work by December because 3 group homes in the city for the mentally ill are out of funding.

She says while it's tough to see jobs go, the employees are also concerned about the clients and where they will end up.

She says since funding is based on placements and the province has not been making them, they are responsible for the closures.

CUPE is sending a letter to Social Development Minister Sue Stultz to rectify the situation.

Americans In New Brunswick Worried About Being Targeted By The I-R-S

Americans who are living in this province are alarmed at word the Internal Revenue Service in the U.S. is after them for taxes.

 Betty Fay Simmons-Ott of H and R Block tells CHSJ News U.S. citizens are taxed under residency and citizenship so Americans living here still have to file a tax return in the States.

She says a letter is sent to the American tax authorities telling them you didn't realise this was a filing requirement and that has been satisfactory so far with no fines or penalities imposed.

Her advice is to get the paperwork filed as soon as you can because beginning in 2013 and 2014 banking information will be passed back and forth.

Anemic Outlook On Provincial Economy

Don't expect robust economic growth in the province for the rest of this year and next according to the latest outlook from B-M-O Capital Markets.

Economist Robert Kavcic tells CHSJ News growth will be limited to 1.5 per cent this year and 1.4 per cent in 2012 and that will put a lid on any job growth.

He warns some major projects like the 1.7 billion dollar potash mine development in Sussex and the Point Lepreau nuclear plant refurbishment are set to wind down next year.

Kavcic adds another big reason for the sluggish performance is the continuing slowdown in the American economy where 85 per cent of exports from New Brunswick head.

Bear Struck Along Highway

Police getting an unusual call a short while ago just before 6:00......One of our road warriors telling us a bear cub was struck along Highway One eastbound near the Rothesay Avenue exit. 

The Department of Natural Resources has been called.

School District 8 Projected To Be In The Red Ink

School District 8 is predicting a 200-thousand dollar budget deficit for the current fiscal year.

Director of Finance Chris Toole tells CHSJ News while the final figure is not set in stone, the red ink is definitely a concern.

He says there are many factors that could make the final number higher or lower as the cost of heating, fuel for buses, and sick days are wildcards that affects the final number.

However, he adds that the 2 million budget cut as ordered by the province definitely cost the district some much needed flexibility.

Saint John Man Sentenced For North End Shooting

A three year prison term handed a 22 year old man for a shooting in the north end.

Trent Byers had been charged with attempted murder but changed his plea to the lesser charge of aggravated assault. 

He was charged after Bruce Higgins was shot at the corner of Main and Albert Streets in the early morning hours of April 15th. 

Higgins told Police he was to meet Byers to buy drugs but says, instead of that, a car pulled up to the street corner and that's when he was shot in the stomach.

Big Rise In Price Of Gas

You're going to have to pay more for self serve regular after a significant increase of almost 5 cents a litre following the weekly setting. 

It's being sold around town for $1.26.3 while diesel also went up by a couple of cents to $1.31.9.

Heating oil will also cost you more at $1.14.9 and propane is up by under a cent with a listed price of $1.16.5 a litre.

Lepreau Exercise Set For Tomorrow

There is no need to panic, it's just an exercise.

The Point Lepreau Generating Station will be participating in a one-day security exercise tomorrow to test security procedures.
The exercise will involve the Nuclear Response Force team along with local and provincial police and emergency services.

You may see emergency response vehicles and hear radio communications simulating a security event.

Station Director Wade Parker tells CHSJ News the purpose of the exercise is to measure the effectiveness of the security emergency response strategy and verify that all components are in place.

Liberals Urge Action On Methadone Waitlist

Liberal MLA Bill Fraser thinks the Alward Tories need to sit down and find a solution to the growing waitlist for methadone treatment here in the City.
Julie Dingwell of Aids Saint John releasing alarming stats this week showing 317 people in Saint John are waiting for the treatment.
Fraser tells CHSJ News these patients are being denied life-saving medication and the government should look at it.

He say when you are dealing with people's lives you have to make it a priority adding in 2009 in the Saint John area 18 people died while waiting for methadone treatment.

Fraser says methadone addiction is more than a health issue adding health care dollars spent now can save money in the future.

Mayor of Quispamsis Says No Seismic Testing Is Being Planned

Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll says residents don't need to worry about seismic testing or shale gas drilling in the town -- he says no requests have been made by any energy companies.

He says companies usually pat the municipality the courtesy of asking for permission and he say there have been no requests.

Hampton Council deciding unanimously last night to not allow seismic testing within town limits -- this after a group of about 50 protesters stood along the McKay Highway in opposition to preliminary testing in the area.

Crown Prosecutor To Hold Onto Oland Murder Evidence

A judge has given a Crown prosecutor another 3 months to hold onto evidence in the Richard Oland murder case.

The evidence was seized from the home of Richard's son Dennis Oland.

The Crown wanted more time to examine the items.

No charges have been laid in the case.

Richard Oland was found dead in his office back in July.

Chase Says New Trash System Won't Bring Major Savings

With most of common council happy with the annual savings of 500-thousand dollars by switching to in-house garbage collection next year, Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase is the only one sounding the warning bell.

Chase voted against the move because according to the current contractor, the numbers don't add up.

He says the city is underestimating the amount of time it takes to pick up the trash and the amount of overtime required.

Chase also voted against the change-over because the switch would leave the city vulnerable to work stoppages.

Hospital Home Lottery Is 50 Per Cent Sold Out

Half of the tickets for the hospital home lottery are sold out.
The Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation announcing if all the tickets are gone by the early bird deadline by November 10th, then all 1242 prizes will be given out along with the grand prize showhome.

This year's lottery is expected for raise over $75,000 for the Mindcare and the New Brunswick Heart Centre.

The showhome this year is located at 11 Crosswind Crescent in Rothesay.

For more info on the lottery, click here

Anti-Poverty Group Warns Poor Could Be Targeted

The Common Front for Social Justice is worried the provincial government will try to reduce its burgeoning deficit on the backs of the poor.

Jean Claude Basque tells CHSJ News he gets concerned when he hears Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs talking about managing the caseloads which translates into cutting the number of people who get help.

Basque points out the number of people receiving social assistance has gone up but that's more a reflection of the poor state of the economy and quite a high number are unable to work anyway.

He argues if the Alward Government returned to the taxation rates that were in place before 2008, there would be plenty of money.

According to the province's fiscal update, overspending by Social Development in the first quarter exceeded 9 million dollars.

Money From Garbage Budget Could Go Towards Roads and Sidewalks

Money normally used for trash collection could be going into city sidewalks and curb repairs.

As of next September, garbage pick-up in the city will be done entirely by city staff, which will save our coffers about 500-thousand dollars a year.

Commissioner of Municipal Operations Paul Groody says that money should be used to fix curbs and sidewalks so that more road repairs can be made.

He says numerous neighbourhoods will benefit from the investment, including Champlain Heights, Quinton Heights, and Forest Hills and adds you can't resurface streets in neighbourhoods if you do not fix the curb.

Deputy Mayor Insulted Over Not Being Invited To Water Meetings

Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase taking umbrage over the fact that he hasn't been invited to meetings regarding funding for clean drinking water.

Chase says he wasn't invited to a meeting between members of council and Saint John MP Rodney Weston back in June and wonders if he has missed any others.

He says he doesn't know why he hasn't been invited because he sits on the Water Committee and wonders if someone on council, a MLA, or Saint John MP Rodney Weston does not want him there.

He says if someone did have an issue with him being at the meetings, he would step aside so that talks could move forward.

Hampton Council Votes Against Shale Gas Testing

Hampton Council last night decided unanimously not to allow seismic testing within the town limits. 

It's only the second town in the province to do this after Sackville and also voted to write a letter to Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup urging him not to renew the two Windsor Energy licenses which expire shortly.

In addition, it's asking the Minister to give no new permits to drill gas wells in the Kennebecasis River watershed.

The Y Is Not Going North

The Saint John Y is not moving north.

In a release, the Saint John YM-YWCA says after conducting due diligence on the old Zellers location, it was decided it would be too costly to demolish and rebuild on this site. 

Staff and volunteers are working to find an ideal location that can be easily accessed by foot, bike, bus or car.