Princess of Acadia Cancels Sailing

The 9am sailing from Saint John and the 4pm sailing from Digby of the Princess of Acadia ferry are cancelled due to high winds.

No Injuries In East Side Blaze

Firefighters responding to a late night blaze in East Saint John.
The call came in just before midnight at 199 Goldsworthy Road with heavy fire in the back of the building.

The fire spread to the middle of the building and to the upper floors.
On arrival, fire crews quickly brought the blaze under control.

No one was injured and fire investigators are looking into the cause.

Food Drive Begins Day 3

Two ladies are into Day 3 of a fast to help raise food donations for the North End Food Bank.
Andrea Richards and Tammy Calvin have been set up in a trailer in Lansdowne Plaza since Thursday and plan to go without food until it's full.

It's about half full now and you can make a non-perishable food donation by dropping by today.

They are looking for:
·        Soups and can goods
·        Bread and rolls
·        Canned vegetables
.        Canned fruits
·        Rice, pasta, Kraft Dinner etc.
·        Cereal and oatmeal
·        Snack foods for children’s lunches
·        Baby foods, diapers and formula
·        Laundry soap, shampoo, body soaps, deodorant etc.
·        Crackers
·        Condiments – soya sauce, ketchup, mayo. etc.
·        Pancake mixes and syrups
·        Peanut butter, cheese whiz, jams etc.

Province Says Funding Is There For Group Homes In City Slated For Closure

The Provincial Government is responding to claims that it's responsible for the impending closure of 3 group homes in the city. 

That charge being made by the Canadian Union of Public Employees which represents the workers. Not so, according to Judy Cole of Social Development. 

Cole says there are too many empty beds and the province won't subsidise beds that are empty but there has been no cut in funding.

CUPE says the province isn't making placements at the 3 group homes which are run by non-profit New Direction.

Cole says the government is optimistic it will be able to place the 13 people who live in the group homes elsewhere. 

Grand Manan Adventure Out Of Service

Engine trouble is why the Grand Manan Adventure is currently out of service.
Greg Ryder of Coastal Transport tells CHSJ News a specialist was flown in from Winnipeg to have a look at the engine.

He says they have ordered replacement parts which are due to arrive in Black's Harbour early next week and he expects the ferry to be back in service by mid to late next week.

In the meantime, the Grand Manan Five is handling all service runs between Black's Harbour and Grand Manan.

North End Food Drive Continues

They are doing well physically and about half way to the goal of filling a trailer full of food.
Passionate North enders Tammy Calvin and Andrea Richards are fasting until the trailer set in Lansdowne Plaza is packed with food.
Calvin tells CHSJ News students from Centennial School dropped off some food day.

She says the kids marched down together and every child brought a food donation with them.
As for going without food, Calvin says they are busy so aren't noticing being hungry as much.
You can drop off non-perishable food donations at the trailer in Lansdowne Plaza.

They are looking for:
·        Soups and can goods
·        Bread and rolls
·        Canned vegetables
.        Canned fruits
·        Rice, pasta, Kraft Dinner etc.
·        Cereal and oatmeal
·        Snack foods for children’s lunches
·        Baby foods, diapers and formula
·        Laundry soap, shampoo, body soaps, deodorant etc.
·        Crackers
·        Condiments – soya sauce, ketchup, mayo. etc.
·        Pancake mixes and syrups
·        Peanut butter, cheese whiz, jams etc.

New E-R At Regional Hospital Being Praised

The New Emergency Department at the Regional Hospital is now fully staffed and officials are pleased at how things are going.

The new Chief of Staff at the Regional, Dr. John Dornan calls it a real success story with 54 patient rooms and staffing up from 8 to 22.

The problem, according to Dr. Dornan, is finding them beds in the hospital after they've been treated in the E-R because so many are being used by patients waiting to go elsewhere, such as nursing homes, when the spaces open up.

Prince Edward Street Robbery Update

Two teens are being sought by City Police for the robbery of a woman just after 7 last night on Prince Edward Street by the mall. The woman was knocked to the ground and had her bag taken. The two suspects are described as white with slender builds with one being 5'6"to 5'8" in height and was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. 
The other is from 5"1" to 5'3" and was also wearing a hoodie. Police say they ran down Prince Edward Street before turning onto Richmond Street.
 
If you know who these guys are, police are urging you to call them at 648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).

Surgical Wait Times Get Shorter

The Regional Hospital is hoping to have 7 operating rooms utilised next year with the aim being to reduce the surgical wait times. Right now, they have six operating rooms being used. 

The Regional Hospital's Executive Director Margaret Melanson says the surgical wait times have improved but they still can be made shorter.
 

Another struggle is with acute care beds being used by patients who should be elsewhere but are stuck in hospitals because nursing home beds aren't available

The Horizon Health Network has been told, as of the end of September, 23 per cent of the beds in the Regional Hospitals are occupied by people who are essentially waiting to be moved to another setting for their care.

Robbery Near Prince Edward Square

The Major Crime Unit is investigating a robbery which was reported last night shortly after 7:00 on Prince Edward Street near the liquor store. 

We're told a woman was knocked to the ground and had her bag stolen by two men who then ran off. 

She sustained just minor injuries.

Horizon Health Network Has Balanced Budget

No talk of any layoffs as the Horizon Health Network meets in the city. 

In fact, Harry Doyle, who chairs the finance committee, says they have a 33 thousand dollar surplus as of the end of July. 

The Canadian Union of Public Employees had been expressing concern back in August of pending layoffs.  

As for layoffs in the future because of the provincial government's rising deficit, Doyle says that would be the last thing they want to do at Horizon and then there's always attrition when departing workers are not replaced.

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.