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Monday, August 26, 2013

Big Bike Rally Coming to Uptown SJ This Week

Bikers and biker wannabes won't want to miss this one.

The first-ever Fundy Shore Road motorcycle rally is coming to Saint John from Wednesday until Friday. Bikers from across the region will be participating n guided rides, a parade of lights through the uptown, and competing in a show 'n' shine.

The bikers are coming through the Port City on their way to the Wharf Rat Rallly in Digby. The event will also include a tug boat water show, chainsaw art, vendors, and live entertainment. It kicks off at Eldridge's on Wednesday night and the show 'n' shine happens on Thursday at 4 in the Coast Guard parking lot. 


Here is the full schedule of events:

Wednesday, August 28th: Meet and Greet at Elridge's Honda and Harley Davidson, including a BBQ and live entertainment 6-9pm

Thursday, August 29th: Guided Ride departing from Elridge's (registration Weds at the meet & greet) 10am-2pm
 -Live entertainment on the Market Square Boardwalk from 12-11pm 
 -Vendor Market on the Boardwalk from 12-6pm
 -Tug Boat water show in the harbour at 3:30
 -Show and Shine at the Coast Guard parking lot: register at noon, judging at 4pm, winners announced at 5:30
 -Parade of lights through uptown Saint John: register at 6pm, departs Coast Guard parking lot at 8pm/

Friday, August 30th: Send off breakfast at Carleton Community Center 8am-12pm


Police Look For Help Cracking Down On Outdoor Grow Ops

 
The police and crime stoppers are asking the public to keep a sharp eye out for outdoor grow ops.

Pot growers plant marijuana on their own property, but also  use crown land and use chicken wire to prevent damage from animals. Other plants are sometimes used to camouflage the plants, and a water supply is usually nearby.

Growers will often use ATV and walking trails to get to the site. Unsuspecting folks have been known to locate a grow op simply by accident or, by recognizing the skunk like odour of pot.

If you suspect there's a grow op in your area, contact the police or Crime Stoppers and you could get a cash reward of up to $2,000. Call
1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or visit www.crimenb.ca.

Government Unveils Plan To Get NBers To Work

If the pipeline is coming to Saint John, we need to make sure we have enough skilled workers to fill the jobs it might create--and the provincial government has released a new skill development strategy with that goal in mind.

One of the items is expanding the successful Teen Apprenticeship Program in Saint John which started off as a pilot. The government also plans to  conduct labour market to find out what sort of positions will be needed in the future. A “women in trades" program is also in the works.

The plan will be rolled out between now and 2016.

Big Book Sale Uptown Today

Big Brothers Big Sisters holding a big fundraiser over the coming days....and if you like to read, you'll definitely want to check it out.

The organization is holding its yearly Big Book Sale at the bottom level of Brunswick Square from today until Saturday, with new books put out every day.

Prices range from a dollar to two dollars. It starts at 10am each day and runs until 6pm.




Higher-Paying Union Jobs Benefit Local Economy

The Canadian Labour Congress has found that average unionized workers in Saint John made just over 7 bucks more per hour than non-union workers.

While that doesn't come as much of a surprise to most people, the boost is even more significant for women workers: women in unions tend to make almost 10 bucks an hour more than their non-union peers.

The Congress report points out that the entire economy benefits from the higher wages for union employees, because it translates to more dollars being spent in our community.

Building Rammed By Car At Marina

Major Crime is investigating after a crash early this morning around 2 on the west side. A vehicle left the road and rammed into a building at the Saint John Marina. 

It took several hours before the vehicle could be safely removed from the building.
 

Police aren't commenting on how the collision transpired and whether there was excessive speed. The traffic division is also part of the investigation.
 

Two people sustained minor injuries are were treated in hospital.


Funeral Tomorrow For Crash Victim

A funeral service is scheduled tomorrow morning at Sacred Heart Church for a 21 year old woman who died last week in a two vehicle collision on Main Street in Hampton. 

Andraya Dianne McEwen-Muise got married earlier this month to Josh Muise. 

The RCMP say it appears she wasn't wearing a seat belt and her vehicle wound up in a nearby ditch after being struck by another one driven by a 17 year old girl. According to police, she was travelling in the opposite direction and crossed the centre line.

Results Of Fracking Study On Human Health

The Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project is one of the first studies of its kind on the effect fracking has on human health. 

Researchers carried out the study over a year and a half and what they found challenges the industry position that fracking is harmless to people.
    

They uncovered seven cases of skin rashes, four of eye irritation, 13 of breathing problems along with three of headaches and dizziness that were plausibly connected to fracking.

East Side Community Centre Is A Danger

The Loch Lomand Community Centre has become a hazard with the city being told the building should not be used because the flooring is not up to National Safety Code standards. 

Estabrooks Engineering. which assessed the building, has determined it would cost more than 300 thousand dollars to do all the repairs with no guarantee more defects wouldn't be discovered. 

Common Council has a recommendation from city staff that the building be torn down and be replaced by another one outside the watershed area at an estimated cost of more than 392 thousand dollars.

Common Councillor Is Worried Over Clean Drinking Water Application

At least one member of Common Council is worried about the status of the city's application for a public-private partnership or P-3 funding arrangement to pay for clean drinking water. 

Councillors have been told the city is confident its application will be approved by P-3's Board of Directors.

As consulting fees for the project have now exceeded 200 thousand dollars, Councillor Bill Farren is looking for greater assurance this won't turn out to be a waste of money.

Mayor Mel Norton says the city has a strong application and no other Council in the history of the city has come this close to achieving the goal of delivering clean drinking water to Saint Johnners.

A decision from P-3 is expected next month.

New Proposal For Former Synagogue

Could the old Synagogue building on Carleton Street at Wellington Row be used for fashion shows, modeling and Zumba classes? 

That idea is being floated to Common Council by Normand Hector who has been operating N-W-H Modeling and Fashion Shows for ten years, first at the old Forest Glen Community Centre and now at Howard Johnsons. 

Hector says he would retain the heritage of the building where he believes more fashion events could be staged. 

Hector has also looked at the old Paramount Theatre in King Square and Pascal Emerson's on King Street but found them to be uneconomical.

Common Councillor Gerry Lowe has raised the possibility of turning the building into office space for the city and non-profit organisations.