Disney Magic Kids To Paint Mosaic Tiles

Kids on the Disney Magic cruise ship will be having a whale of a time this summer as they participate in creating a mosaic at the NB Museum.
 
Aquila Tours President Beth Kelly tells CHSJ News the pieces the kids paint will be assembled into a mosaic of a whale, which will have its permanent home at the new cruise ship terminal.

She says the children and their parents go to the museum and paint tiles which will be included in an art peice by Sheryl Crowley.

As part of Aquila Tour's 30th anniversary celebrations this year, Kelly tells us the company will also be adopting a Right Whale each day the Disney Magic calls on the Port City.    The Disney Magic cruise ship makes its second call to Saint John tomorrow morning, arriving in port about 8:30am.

Police Issue Warning To Partiers

Graduation is certainly a milestone worth celebrating--but the Rothesay Regional Police are warning parents and guardians to keep a close eye on the kids this time of year. 

Constable Eugene Belliveau says it's a time when parties can get out of hand.

He says things can get out of control with damage and thefts to the house and with social media and people texting their friends all of a sudden 20 to 30 people show up who were not invited.

Belliveau tells CHSJ News last year an officer had a bottle smashed over her head--and there are steep fines in Rothesay and Quispamsis for both noise violations and underage drinking.

Hampton RCMP Remind You To Lock Your Vehicles

Hampton RCMP reminding you to remove items from your car that may be tempting to thieves.

Sometime between 1:30 and 4:30 yesterday, the Mounties were called to the Florida Beach in Upper Loch Lomond where a car window was smashed and a purse was taken.   

The owner had taken her wallet to the beach with her.

The black Saturn was parked along Route 820 at the time.
 
If you can help police or Crimestoppers, call RCMP at 832-5566 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Commission Issues Cease Trade Orders

The Provincial Securities Commission issuing permanent cease-trade order against MI Capital Corp of Hong Kong and One Capital Corp Limited of Singapore.

The commission received complaints from several people in the province who received many calls in an effort to get them to invest in gold options.
  
The commission says the number of salespersons is unknown, and at least one of the callers may be using different names.

Executive Director Rick Hancox says you should be particularly suspicious of people offering deals over the telephone.

None of the people reporting the suspicious activity invested any money but, the commission wants to hear from any residents who got calls from the companies or who may have given money to them.

For more info, click here

Seal Pup Born In Shippagan

A seal pup has been born at the New Brunswick Aquarium and Marine Centre in Shippagan.

Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Minister Michael Olscamp says the birth of a seal in captivity is rare in this province.

The baby seal is being named "D'Amour".

No Injuries After Train/Tractor Crack Up

No one got hurt but the vehicles after a train/tractor crack-up in Passekeag.

RCMP responding to the collision at the railway crossing on the Bettle Point Road about 1:30 yesterday afternoon.

The 22-year-old driver of the tractor was hauling a load near the railway crossing when he noticed the train approaching.
In trying to move the tractor off the tracks, the trailer jack-knifed.

The train clipped the forklift equipment on the front of the tractor causing extensive damage to both the train and tractor. 

Chow Campaigns With Cardy In Rothesay

Provincial NDP Leader Dominic Cardy getting more federal support as Monday's by-election in Rothesay draws closer.

Toronto NDP MP Olivia Chow tells CHSJ News that accountable government is important weather it's Ottawa or Fredericton.

She says it's important to have a New Democrat voice to keep the government honest which is why she is here to support Cardy.

Cardy says its an honour to have Chow with him on the campaign trail in Rothesay and it shows the New Democrats are united.

Blaney Appointment Dominating Rothesay Byelection

The Conservatives can't have it both ways on the appointment of former Rothesay M-L-A Margaret Ann Blaney as President and C-E-O of Efficiency NB. 

So charges the Liberal candidate in the Rothesay byelection John Wilcox who points out they were bragging about saving the taxpayers 200 thousand dollars by eliminating the job and having the Deputy Minister take over the duties. 

Wilcox tells CHSJ News people have been venting as he campaigns door to door and alot of people who have voted Conservative in the past have told him they're not going to be doing that next Monday.
 
Elections NB, meantime, is reporting 846 people in the riding cast ballots in the advance polls.

  

New Revenue-Generating Bus Routes Suggested

City Council looking for ways to generate revenue with new bus routes. The routes would run from the outlying communities to the Sussex Potash Mines and Point Lepreau.

Councillor John Mackenzie tells CHSJ news it would help the commute for Saint John residents who work in those areas and it's a good money making opportunity for Saint John Transit.  
 
Mackenzie adds fares wouldn't be raised, but it would generate revenue for long term sustainability. He also believes such a move could restore funding cuts to bus routes in priority neighbourhoods.

City Authorises New Approach to Pension Deficit

Now that Premier David Alward has signed off a repeal of the city's Pension Act, Mayor Mel Norton taking a cue from the province's collaborative approach to hammering out the best reforms. 

Common council carrying Norton's motion the city enlist the provincial pension task force to consult with labour groups, personnel, and plan members to restructure the city's nearly $200 million dollar pension deficit.

Norton says a cooperative approach will provide long term security for plan members, ensuring funds will be there "forever and a day," in the mayor's words.

The move that was recently approved by the Legislature is believed to give to City more control over the pension plan. Norton making it clear whatever the task force comes back with, the decision remains with the City of Saint John.

Grand Bay Westfield Thief Busted

A teen getting busted for a string of thefts from unlocked vehicles in Grand Bay Westfield over the past week.

Several youths were noticed lurking around vehicles in a parking lot. A 17-year-old boy from Saint John was arrested and later released to his parents’ custody. Charges are pending. Further arrests and charges are possible.

Cpl. Patrick Cole of the District 3 RCMP calling it a crime of opportunity.

Police are unsure how many vehicles were hit but have been able to recover some stolen items.

Road Trip To Hit Saint John

A journalist and author is making a cross Canada road trip.

Mark Richardson writes for Maclean's Magazine, and left St. John's, Newfoundland on June 4th before heading to New Brunswick and beyond.

Mark tells CHSJ News the trip commemorates two significant anniversaries... 50 years since the Trans Canada Highway was completed ...and 100 years since the first cross Canada road trip.

Richardson expects to arrive in Victoria on August 8th and will write a book about his trip.

The trek will hit Saint John on Thursday night.

Families In Province Are Running Short Of Food

Back in World War Two, there were victory gardens planted and now the provincial government has launched its Community Food Action Programme.

Grants of up to 2 thousand dollars are available to set up community gardens, collective kitchens, greenhouses or cooking programmes to get us to eat better.

Wellness Minister Trevor Holder making the announcement in Crescent Valley where they have a neighbourhood garden. He says 10 per cent of households in the province experienced food insecurity in 2007 and 2008 which means they were unable to afford enough food, at times, to meet the nutritional needs of their family members.

Holder says the programme is based on what they've been doing for a few years now in Manitoba. 50 thousand dollars in grants will be handed out.

Dairytown Church Hit By Vandalism

Sussex RCMP want your help in finding who smashed windows at the Sussex Baptist Church on Church Avenue.

Just after 8 pm on Friday and early on Saturday morning someone or some people smashed two windows at the church.

If you know anything call Sussex RCMP or NB Crime Stoppers, click here or call 1-800-222-TIPS.

 

The War of 1812 Flag & Book Mark 200th Anniversary

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and its being remembered by the restoration of a flag and a new book.


Retired soldier Bob Dallison wrote "A Neighbourly War" and tells CHSJ News the story of the 104th regiment is remarkable and should be shared.

He says the regiment marched from Fredericton to Kingston, Ontario--a distance of more than 1100 kilometres in 52 days.

Museum Chair John Irving says by contrast today we would be bundled up for any activity in winter.  Irving says they were marking in February in wool and in leather boots.


The 104th regiment flag was returned to New Brunswick by a descendent of one of the soldiers in 1939 as World War 2 was beginning. 

Recycling In Province Said To Be At A Crossroads

The recycling industry in the province is calling for a public forum on what the future of the programme looks like with a warning the next few years will be challenging ones as operationalf costs increase.

Encorp Atlantic's Pierre Landry tells CHSJ News even though an estimated 2.7 billion non-alcoholic beverage containers have been kept out of the landfills around the province, there is a need for the programme to be renewed.

He would like to see other streams brought into the system such as electronic waste.

Landry says market surveys are sending the message the redemption centres themselves could be made alot more attractive and cleaner for consumers.

Provincial NDP Calls For Elimination Of Small Business Tax

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy is wondering what the heck is going on at Efficiency NB and why have their been four Presidents and C-E-O's there in just one year.

Cardy is running in the Rothesay byelection next Monday.

Patronage has been a major issue of Cardy's campaign but he's now talking about making life easier for small businesspeople.

That's why Cardy tells CHSJ News he likes what the NDP government did in Manitoba when it got rid of the small business tax to generate more hiring.

McAlary Has A Bone To Pick With Bad Roads

Potholes and cracks in the roads need to be fixed before they do more damage--that from common councillor Shirley McAlary. She says you'd be hard pressed to find a single person in the city who's pleased with the condition of the roads.

McAlary says the problem isn't getting any better, an ordinary drivers are the ones paying the price, with damage being done to people's vehicles on a regular basis.

McAlary tells us even if we can't repave all the roads, council should find money to undertake spot-work on the worst areas.

T-S-N Sportscaster Brings Message About Mental Illness To Quispamsis

T-S-N sportscaster Micheal Landsberg is on a mission to persuade people to take mental illness more seriously and not view it as a weakness. 

Landsberg, hosted an "Off the Record" at the Q-Plex over the weekend, has suffered from severe depression for years which he describes as taking who you are and turning you into someone else you don't like as well as eroding your self esteem and confidence.

Landsberg brought his show to Quispamsis to raise money for MindCare New Brunswick. He believes a majority of people still don't see depression  in the same light as an actual physical affliction.

Firefighters and Police Unions Support Mayor On City Pension Plan

The Firefighters Union and Saint John Police Association are on board, at least for the time being, on this new direction for fixing the city's pension plan

Police Association President Jamie Hachey says it's going to be a while before they know specifically how the plan will change with recommendations expected in September after meetings are held over the summer with the provincial task force that came up with changes to the provincial government's own pension plan.
 
The President of Local 771 of the Firefighters Association, Paul Stackhouse says so far, so good.
 
Hachey says, from what he has been told, it seems to be a plan the provincial task force has come up with under promises and over delivers which will be good for both the plan's beneficiaries and city taxpayers.