"Love is Louder" Anti-Bullying Rally a Success

If you heard about the bullying incident at Hampton Middle School last Thursday, you might have wondered how the community responded.

Over 150 people attended an anti-bullying rally in Hampton Saturday. It featured a motivational speaker, music, and presentations. MLA Bev Harrison was in attendance.

Local mom Leanne Cochrane tells CHSJ news that an incident we reported earlier this month--a young girl at Hampton Middle School getting held down and her hair cut---inspired her to hold the rally. The larger message was that "love is louder"--in other words, that kindness is a stronger force than intimidation.

Cochrane hopes to continue the campaign with other forms of anti-bullying education.

Heated Oposition to Fire Service Cuts at Rally Yesterday

Three hundred people braved frigid temperatures on Saturday to show their support for the city's fire services. This coming after last week's announcement that the proposed budget for the fire department is 460-thousand dollars less than last year. Despite that council cancelled that closed-door meeting, event organizers decided to press on anyway and get their message out.

Paul Stackhouse, the President of the Fire Fighter's Association, tells CHSJ news that yesterday's rally is just the tip of the iceberg. They've also launched a door-to-door campaign, and are raising awareness of the cuts through Facebook and Twitter.

Stackhouse says that the proposed cuts would mean that jobs get cut and trucks get taken off the road--which would pose safety risks to Saint Johners, as well as potentially raising insurance rates.

For more information, go to their Facebook group at

http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/239679742775041/

Or follow the Fire Fighter's Association on Twitter: @iafflocal771

Deputy Mayor Wants Job Cuts At City Hall

Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase says the city should go ahead and cut 100 jobs even if the province grants it pension reforms.

Chase tells CHSJ News the 9 million dollars earmarked for pension payments should still be used to pay off the pension deficit instead of being funneled back into the budget.

He says the city needs to really examine who it gives money to and look into contracting out certain services.
 

He says debt payments will continue to grow over the next few years so council needs to start preparing for it.

Water Main Break on Prince Edward Street

A water main break at an apartment complex on Prince Edward Street has left 6 to a dozen people displaced from their homes.

Police and fire officials responding to the call about an hour ago. According to early reports, a lot of water was pouring into the boiler room of the building and couldn't immediately be stopped.

The Red Cross is being called in to offer assistance to the residents effected by the incident.

New Program Helps You With Your Eating

If you have a troubled relationship with food, the  Saint Joseph's Community Health Center can help you make the change You're craving.

The center is rolling out a new program called Craving Change. It aims to help participants understand why they eat the way they do, how to relax without food; and how your thoughts effect what you eat.

Clinical dietitian Bonnie Reevey says there's more to the program than just shedding those pesky extra pounds, since problem eating can be an issue for people of any shape or size.

The next session is open to anyone and starts on January 24th at Saint Joseph's Community Center. The center is located at 116 Coburg Street. Each session runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There's a

Space is limited. Please call 632-5537 to register.

Hampton Rallies Around Bullying Victim

The town of Hampton is rallying around a little girl who was the victim of bullying last week.
RCMP are looking into the alleged incident where the 12-year-old was held down and had her hair cut.
Organizer Leanne Cochrane tells CHSJ News she put the rally together because she's a mom and has empathy for the child.

She says everyone has their own experience whether you are an adult in the workplace or a child in a classroom, bullies are everywhere.

The rally begins at 11am tomorrow at the Hampton Pavillion and runs until 1pm.
It will feature a motivational speaker, dance troupes and a martial art demonstration.

For more info, click here

Vibrant Communities Looking For Input On Poverty Forum

Businesses, non-profit groups, politicians and those in poverty coming out to discuss what can be done to reduce poverty in the city.

A forum was held earlier today and Acting Co-ordinator of Vibrant Communities Cathy Wright tells CHSJ News a few ideas were brought to the forefront, like trying to get businesses more involved when it comes to employing those in poverty.


Other ideas include changing government policies on those affected by poverty and how to maximize the arrival of the YM-YWCA to the Crescent Valley area.

She says Vibrant Communities has set up an online forum so the conversation can continue and can be found here.

City Police Make Arrest In West Side Sexual Assault

The Family Protection Unit of the City police force arresting a 25 year old Chance Harbour man for aggravated sexual assault in Saint John.


The charge against Bradley Scott Wilson relates to an assault that took place last Thursday on the west side.

Wilson will remain in jail until another court appearance scheduled for Monday.

Storm Causes More Than 24 Crack-Ups

It should have been a pretty winter day but, extremely slippery road conditions in Greater Saint John leading to more than two dozen collisions.

At one point, the Rothesay Avenue overpass was blocked by a jacknifed tractor-trailer that hit a police car.
Emergency personnel and area tow trucks were kept hopping responding to vehicles off the road.

So many vehicles were in the ditch near the Fox Farm Road on the Mackay Highway, police were referring to it as an "auto graveyard".

Crews from the City of Saint John's municipal operations are out clearing snow along with salting and sanding roads and sidewalks.
A Winter overnight parking restriction is in effect meaning vehicles parked on the street between midnight and 7am could be ticketed and towed.

However, there is no snow ban in effect for the South Central Peninsula tonight.

For more info, click here

Firefighters Say Common Council Is Risking Lives

Saint John fire fighters says the public is being put at risk due to proposed funding cuts in the 2012 budget.

Paul Stackhouse is the President of the Fire Fighters Association.  He tells CHSJ News with the loss of up to 750-thousand dollars, 8 to 24 firefighters could be cut and a truck from the Courtney Avenue fire station would be gone.

He says the departments response time would increase from 4 minutes to 6 or 7 minutes -- well in excess of international standards.

Stackhouse adds not only would it put lives at risk but insurance will also increase for homeowners, businesses, and landlords.

He says the city faces many fire risks because of old buildings and many industrial businesses and the cuts are unacceptable.

A rally to protest the cuts is being held tomorrow morning in front of city hall at 8am while Common Council meets to discuss the budget.

Finance Minister Says Its Not Up To Ottawa To Fix Healthcare In Province

Federal transfer payments account for 20 per cent of the healthcare budget and they won't be increasing. Prime Minister Harper made that clear to the Premiers.

Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says that means the Alward Government will have to take the bull by the horns and make changes to rein in spending and make the system more efficient regardless of the flak.

Higgs is optimistic the right changes will free up more money to be spent better but he concedes people are sensitive anytime they hear about healthcare changing.

Deputy Mayor Says Fire Budget Affected By Potential Wage Increases

Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase explaining why the proposed budget for the fire department is 460-thousand dollars less than last year.

Council had committed to a budget increase of one percent for the fire department.

Chase says firefighters are currently negotiating for a pay increase and the city is estimating they may get a 3 to 4 percent increase.  If that happens, Chase says it is coming out of the fire budget.

He says the department may have to lose firefighters to make ends meet.

The projected fire budget for 2012 is 23.2 million dollars.

Case Made Against Selling Off NB Power

There's alot of speculation about NB Liquor being sold to give the provincial government some much needed revenue. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is urging the Alward Government to do just that.

Martha Thompson, who's President of the union local representing liquor store workers, argues that would not be good for the economy in the long run because good paying jobs would be replaced by minimum wage ones with less disposable income to spend.
 
Thompson also claims the overall cost of doing business within the liquor corporation is among the best in the country.

City Police Warn Residents To Slow Down Today

A few centimetres of snow leading to traffic chaos in Greater Saint John.

The Highway 1 overpass eastbound at Rothesay Avenue is closed after a tractor-trailer struck a police car and another car hit the tractor-trailer. The person in the car was sent to hospital to be checked out. No one else was hurt.  The truck has jack-knifed across the road.

Emergency personnel have their hands full with multiple accidents on the Mackay Highway from the Dolan Road Circle K to Rothesay Avenue Exit.

Highway 7 between Saint John to Grand Bay-Westfield is extremely icy.
A road warrior tells us it's looks bare but, it's a sheet  of ice.

Police are responding to numerous accidents around the city and on Highway 1 between Saint John and Quispamsis and they are asking everyone to slow down or to stay home until road conditions get better.

(photo courtesy of Lindsay Cole)

RCMP Looking For Armed Robbers

The RCMP have released photos and descriptions of two suspects in the armed robbery of Zealand Convenience, on Route 104.

A shot was fired but no one was hit. The store owner was assaulted and taken to hospital where he was treated and later released. An undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes was stolen. 

There was an earlier armed holdup at Estey's General store on Route 104 in Millville where a shot was fired with cash and cigarettes being stolen.

Opposition Takes A Closer Look At Ambulance Response Times

The response times of Ambulance New Brunswick is getting put under the microscope by Opposition Health Advocate Bill Fraser.

Fraser tells CHSJ News he has figures that show ambulances arriving beyond the target response time which is 9 minutes in an urban area and 22 minutes in a rural area.

He says ANB claims it meets its response time target 90 percent of the time but he says there are exemptions that can skew the numbers.
 
The CEO of Ambulance New Brunswick has agreed to meet with him and discuss the issue.


Fraser adds he was prompted to look into the numbers after a patient in St. Andrews had to wait for an ambulance to come from Lepreau.

Business Leaders Praise Saint John's Smart 21 Designation

The Intelligence Community Forum naming Saint John one of the top 7 tech spots on the globe.
The designation recognizes Saint John’s culture of innovation, particularly in the growth of ICT start-ups and the development of public services.

Enterprise Saint John CEO Steve Carson tells CHSJ News this title will position Saint John in a whole new light.

He says to have ICT recognize that creative and innovative things are happening here every day is amazing and it becomes a part of our story as we talk to future investors.

Danielle Timmins of Aquila Tours was part of the 50 groups involved in the application process.
She tells CHSJ News they developed an online program to train tour guides that is now a standard for the industry.

T4G Marketing Director Cathy Simpson tells CHSJ News she hopes the designation will help grow and keep the talent here in Saint John.

She says tremendous businesses have been founded and started in Saint John with great talent in the city and she hopes this designation allows us to showcase that the City is a great place to start your career or to come back to.

Programs offered at Dalhousie Medicine NB and at school in District 8 were singled out by ICT as some of Saint John's accomplishments.

The Port City shares the title with Austin, Texas, Oulu, Finland and Quebec City to name a few.

New East Side Eatery Hiring 40 People

40 full and part-time jobs are up for grabs as a new eatery opens in East Saint John next month.

St. Hubert Express is opening on Valentine's Day at the corner of Westmorland Road and McAllister Place.

Spokesperson Josee Vaillancourt tells CHSJ News says hiring is underway.

She tells us a mass hiring is on until 8pm tonight and again tomorrow from 3 to 8pm.

They are also accepting applications on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

Vaillancourt adds the company is expanding into Ontario and New Brunswick with the St. Hubert Express locations.

For more info, click here

Ambulance New Brunswick Says Patients Are Happy With Service

The local paramedics union is worried about ambulance coverage and response times in the province.

The union says the deployment system currently being used by Ambulance New Brunswick results in a lack of coverage for rural communities and less ambulances on the roads at night.

Sophie Cormier-Lalonde with Ambulance New Brunswick tells CHSJ News while she cannot comment directly on the charges due to current negotiations with the union, she says patients gave ANB a score of 9.55 out of 10 in a recent satisfaction survey.



She says since the inception of ANB, the organization has always received high scores in its annual survey.

She adds it's a testament to the professionalism and skill of everyone at ANB.

Higgs Says There Need Not Be A Shortage Of Family Doctors

Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs is saying there's no reason for anyone from St. Stephen to Sussex to be without a family doctor. 

He says there are 161 family doctors in the Saint John region and if each one saw 15 patients a day, there wouldn't be a doctor shortage because half a million patients could be seen.
 
Higgs points out 40 per cent of the doctors he's talking about are on salary with no targeted patient load so they can see as few as they want.