Hanwell Fire Destroys Auto Repair Shop, Vehicles

Photo Courtesy Of Fredericton Firefighters Association

An auto repair shop on the Hanwell Road just outside of Fredericton being completely gutted by fire. 

Fredericton Fire Department Platoon Captain Mike Mizner tells CHSJ News about seven vehicles around the building were also destroyed. There were several explosions as firefighters were battling the blaze, which sent fireballs 30 to 40 feet in the air. 

The New Maryland, Oromocto and Upper Kingsclear Fire Departments were called in to assist, and crews were on the scene for about eight hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

BREAKING: Major Structure Fire In Hanwell

Fire crews in the Fredericton area asking drivers to steer clear of the scene of a large structure fire in Hanwell. 

Flames and thick, black smoke can be seen coming from a building on the Hanwell Road and there are reports of multiple, small explosions. 

You can see pictures of the blaze on the Fredericton Fire Department's Twitter account.

Warning About Olympic Scams

Buyers, beware: the Maritime Better Business Bureau is sending out a warning to shoppers who want to show their support for the Sochi Olympics. Ccounterfeit goods and scams are all over the place.

A recent eBay search turning up a fake Olympic Torch for Sochi 2014 at a cost of $7,000.

And if you or someone you know plan on heading to Sochi...the Olympic Committee is sending a similar message about tickets saying if you plan on buying them on a website other than tickets.sochi2014.com, they strongly reccommend you make sure they're authorized to sell them---otherwise, you could end up buying fakes then then getting turned away at the door.

Saint John Chef Cast On Reality Cooking Show

A Saint John chef will soon be cooking up a storm on your television screen. 

Jesse Vergen of the Saint John Alehouse and the Smoking Pig Real BBQ will be appearing on Top Chef Canada. Vergen tells CHSJ News for his audition he cooked wild black duck with periwinkles, foraged sea greens from the Bay of Fundy with cattail salad.

It seems he's not too concerned about the speed factor, telling us he's been trained to work fast and tells us anyone who works in the restaurant or hospitality industry knows you don't just walk to a table, you walk briskly.

The show premiers on March 10 on the Food Network. You can check out Vergen's audition tape by going to their website.

Health Canada Updates Safety Info For Bipolar Drug

If you or someone you know is taking lithium, Health Canada wants you to be aware of new safety information and treatment recommendations for the drug.

Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder, however, taking it can cause high levels of calcium in the bloodstream which may or may not be accompanied by an increased level of parathormone, also known as hyperparathyroidism.

Health Canada is now working with companies to update the product labels for the drugs. If you're on lithium, the federal department says do not stop treatment unless you've talked over the benefits and the risks of your treatment with your doctor.

Seven medications containing lithium are available in Canada.

UNB Students Officially Lose March Reading Week

The University of New Brunswick Academic Senates giving the official green-light to the cancellation of the March Reading Week as a way to make up for time lost due to a more than two week long faculty strike last month, according to reports.

No exams or tests will be held during that time, and a reading day for students has been added the day before the start of exams. Thee deadline for payment of fees for this semester's term courses being extended to this upcoming Friday.

You can find a link to the revised Academic Dates Calender for undergraduate students by clicking here. According to UNB, additional details including academic dates for graduate students will be circulated by email as soon as they are finalized. Follow more updates as they become available by clicking here.

City Hall Might Not Be At The Foot Of King For Much Longer

City Hall's been at the foot of King for a few decades now--but that could soon change. 

The city is currently getting quotes from a developer, talking to property owners, and inquiring about the heritage status of other buildings that might be cheaper for council. City Manager Pat Woods explains there are a few different options: build, buy or lease, and they've had ongoing discussion with their current landlord.

No specific sites have been named--although some conspicuously vacant buildings in the uptown include the former Synagogue on Wellington Row, and the former Sydney St courthouse.

Not A Big Reader? You Can Still Help Your Kids Learn

Bookworms aren't exactly a flourishing breed here in New Brunswick.
 
According to Natasha Bozek of the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick the majority of adults in this province don't have the literacy skills you'd expect--and that means they're not passing them on to their kids.

Bozek suggests if you're a parent who struggles with reading, work along with your kids when they do their homework and make reading together a bonding experience.

Sex Workers Will No Longer Be Prosecuted For Plying Trade

With the Supreme Court recently ruling it's unconstitutional to prosecute prostitution-related offenses, Police Chief Bill Reid tells CHSJ News he completely agrees and the force has been hearing the same thing from the Sex Trade Action committee for a long time.

He says there are only about 25 workers actively plying the trade in the Saint John area, and what they need are compassionate people working with them, not further persecution.

Real Estate Market Outlook Decent For Buyers And Sellers Heading Into Spring

If you are wondering about whether it's a good time to buy or sell a home - the outgoing president of the Saint John Real Estate Board - Jason Stephen - is suggesting "why not?"
Find out why in the video below.

The average sale price of a home last year came in at $179,489 - up slightly from 2012 helping to make the city one of the most affordable housing markets in the country.

Survey Aims To Improve Cancer Care For Kids

The parent of kids who had cancer in their teens or childhood being asked to take part in a survey.

The Pediatric Oncology Patient Navigator Program is conducting a confidential, online survey with the aim to improve children’s cancer care services across the province.

They would like parents or guardians of children or teens that had cancer under the age of 17 between 2005 and 2013 to provide feedback about the service they received during their time of treatment.

To take part in the survey click, here

SJ No Longer Has Highest Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate in Saint John went down in February from 6.8 to 6.4 per cent which is a lower rate than in Moncton and Halifax.

Provincial unemployment rose to 9.9 per cent with the loss of 24 hundred jobs. Nationally, the jobless rate is 7 per cent with the addition of 29 thousand jobs when the analysts expected 20 thousand.

Conservatives And Liberals Spar Over TV Ads

Premier David Alward's TV ads coming up in the Legislature with Provincial Liberal leader Brian Gallant saying the Olympic coverage should not be polluted by his message of despair. The Premier responded by saying the only pollution is being spewed by the Liberals.

Alward has taken to calling the Liberals, the party of press pause and moratoriums with no new ideas on offer to grow the provincial economy.

University Students Getting Some Money Back

The U-N-B Board of Governors will be giving the money the university saved during the recent strike by faculty back to the students because of the hardship and inconvenience they suffered. 

The Board of Governors deciding the university should not financially benefit because of the strike.
 
The exact figures and details are still not known but it's thought full-time students will receive a lump sum credit on their account of over $200 with part time students getting a lesser amount.

UNB Teachers Vote To Accept New Deal

UNB teachers across the province voting to accept the tentative collective agreement signed with administration on January 30th.

90% of those who cast a ballot voted for acceptance.  The next step in the process is ratification by the Board of Governors.

Union president Miriam Jones says they owe a huge debt of gratitude to their bargaining team adding they did difficult work for more than a year.

Jones says the strike was difficult for everyone but she says their members have come out of it reinvigorated and ready to work to reclaim their university.

Booze Sales Suffer From Ice Storm Fallout

NB Liquor releasing its third quarter results and total sales were more than $100 million unchanged from the same time in 2012.

VP of Finance Chris Evans says power outages combined with extreme winter weather contributed to a decline in customer visits on key selling dates.

Wine sales are up 3.9 per cent, beer sales slipped 2.4 per cent and sales of other beverages increased 4.5 per cent.

The third quarter ended on December 29th.

Cardy Lays Out Plan To Save Province Money

The NDP leader for New Brunswick suggesting trimming the fat in the government's senior management sector as one of many ways the province can save money. 

Dominic Cardy laying out a plan to save more than $213-million as a way to help balance the budget. Cardy says he would cut the size of the cabinet down to 10 from 17, the number of deputy ministers to 14 from 27 and the number of senior managers to 50 from over 100.

He also estimates taxpayers would save around $2-million if MLAs used spare offices in government buildings instead of paying rent for office space. Another more than $74-million could be saved by delivering on the promise of the last Liberal government to centralize common government services, according to Cardy.

Cardy coming out with the plan just after the release of the Alward Government's budget.

Irving Oil Unveils New Fire Truck And Training Partnership

A brand new ladder truck being unveiled at the Irving Oil Emergency Services building on Grandview Avenue.

In addition, the City and Irving Oil announcing a partnership on creating a training facility for firefighters that both companies can use and third parties.
 
Fire Chief Kevin Clifford says he's been concerned about their firefighters not having a place to train and soon they will.

He says they are not at elevated positions every day so having a training facility is incredibly important for a community like this and the response profile they have.

The training facility for the Saint John Fire Department will open in May.

Mental Health Fundraiser Coming Up This Weekend

Sharpen those ice skates because this year's Investors Group Skate to Care event is coming up this weekend. 

Director of Development with the Regional Hospital Foundation & Mindcare Victoria Clarke says this year they're focusing on mental health first aid. She describes it as the mental health equivalent of being a first responder, training people to recognize signs of stress, anxiety and depression in children. 

Clarke says we still have a ways to go when it comes to increasing awareness of mental illness and erasing the stigma, but seeing the community rallying around an event like this tells her the groundswell is coming.

The event is happening at Harbour Station on Saturday from 10am-2pm. Click here for more information on the event, including how to join or support a team.

College Students Feel Let Down

University students are disappointed the provincial budget did not contain measures to ease their financial burden.
 
Pat Joyce of the New Brunswick Student Alliance tells CHSJ News the province had saved money with a lower interest rate on what it had borrowed to provide financial aid to students. They were hoping that money would be used to help them out but such was not the case. 

Joyce points the cost of higher education is getting more onerous with the rising costs of tuition, textbooks and housing. He worries post secondary education is becoming less accessible for many young people and argues helping students out financially is really investing in the provincial economy as more and more jobs require higher skills.