Canadian Association of Movers Offers Moving Tips

The moving process is enough to make anyone's stress levels skyrocket, and the Canadian Association of Movers has some advice to avoid being left high and dry at the last minute.

Summer is the peak demand period for moving companies so make sure to get your ducks in a row early. The C-A-M says you should check with them, your provincial government and/or the Better Business Bureau before you hire anyone. They suggest getting three on-site estimates in writing and to ask how your stuff will be protected against loss or damage and insured while it's being moved and get that, again, in writing.

The C-A-M warns do not use a mover with vague contact info. If their website doesn't have a street address and their only phone is a cell phone, don't hire them.

It's Rollerball Time

It's a pretty unique Saint John event and maybe you don't know about it.

The 3rd annual Rollerball is coming up tonight at the Barrack Green Amouries.
 
June Breau-Nason of the Teen Resource Centre tells CHSJ News they are happy to work with the Fog City Rollers. She says they wanted to do something different for fundraising and the Fog City Rollers were game to support a youth organization while the TRC is happy to highlight their amazing sport.

Rollerball features an intersquad derby bout with the Fog City Rollers and there will be a DJ and a silent auction.

It gets underway at 7pm at the Barrack Green Armouries. Tickets are $30 each and available at the Heartbreak Boutique and at the door.

Woodstock Man Killed In Crash

A car crash in Baie Verte claiming the life of a 45-year-old man from Woodstock.

The incident happening on Route 16 when his vehicle went off the road and hit a culvert. He was taken to hospital in Sackville where he died from his injuries.

RCMP are now looking into what caused the crash and say impairment and distracted driving haven't been ruled out. He was the only person in the vehicle.

Service NB Locations Closed

You're going to have to wait until Monday if you want to get anything done at Service New Brunswick.

All centres will be closed today as they do a major upgrade to their systems. Online and telephone services will also be down for vehicles renewals, the  e-mail reminder service, and auto dealer applications for businesses.

Hours and services will return to normal on Monday, May 12.

Get Rid Of Those Old Prescriptions Today

Got some Tylenol 3s or Percocets sitting in your cabinet from that back surgery years ago?

You probably held on to them in case they came in handy later--but today is Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day, where you can safely get rid of those unused pills. 

Sergeant Jay Henderson of the Saint John Police says it's a Canada-wide initiative.

Prescription medication abuse is a public safety issue throughout Canada.

Simply take prescriptions you no longer need out of the bottle with you name on it, and put them in a ziplock bag for your local pharmacy to have them safely disposed of.

Soliders And Dignitaries Gather To Honour Afghan Troops

Soldiers, politicians, and dignitaries gathered this afternoon at the Barrack Green Armouries to possibly get a sense of closure, and remember the Canadians who died, during Canada's recently-completed mission in Afghanistan.

Sergeant MacNeill served with the Lord Strathcona's Horse Regiment and has completed a number of tours overseas-- including two in Afghanistan. He tells Tide News what he often sees is a sense that everyone supports soldiers until it's time to actually do something to honour their service, in which case there is often only scant interest from the civilian population.

A gathering on Parliament Hill is also honouring the sacrifices of Canada’s 13-year military engagement in Afghanistan. In total, 158 troops lost their lives over that period.

More Liberal Candidates Will Be Chosen Tomorrow

Another sign we are barreling toward a provincial election this fall.  

There are two Liberal nomination meeting tomorrow, one in Saint John and the other in Rothesay.

Saint John Lancaster Liberals choose a candidate first and they have three people vying for the nomination...Ivan Court, Don Ketchum and Peter McGuire.

That meeting is being held at the Peter Murray arena with the nomination beginning at 11am, doors open at 830am.

A few hours later in Rothesay, another Liberal nomination meeting begins at 2pm at the Bill McGuire Memorial Centre.

Doors open at 10am for that one.

Fraud & Weapons Charges For Two Men In Their 20s

According to police, a 22 year old man is facing fraud charges after allegedly opening fake bank accounts, depositing empty envelopes, then making withdrawals.

He was arrested at a bank on King Street.

As well, a 20 year old is facing weapons charges after he was seen walking around on a path near Landsdowne Plaza with a gun, which turned out to be a pellet gun.

20 year old was ordered to drop it 3 or 4 times before he finally did it....it turned out to be a pellet gun.

When arrested, he was also found to have marijuana on him. He is also expected in court this afternoon.

Shephard Defends Alward Government's Record On Wellness

Healthy and Inclusive Communities Minister Dorothy Shephard says the Alward Government is doing more to bring about wellness than the previous Liberal Government ever did. 

She's responding to criticism from Liberal M-L-A Donald Arsenault about the obesity rate in New Brunswick being 10 per cent higher than the national average.

Shephard tells Tide News it's going to take some time to make inroads with lowering the rate of obesity when you have a culture where sugar and video games are okay.
 
There's a new documentary being released narrated by Katie Couric that blames food manufacturers for a dependency on sugar that's considered largely responsible for obesity.

Australian researchers are now saying for women age 30 and older, being a couch potato could be more hazardous to their heart health than smoking or carrying extra weight.

Unemployment Rate Rises

A disappointing report from Stats Canada on jobs with the April unemployment rate nationally staying at 6.9 per cent in spite of the economy shedding 29 thousand jobs.
 
In New Brunswick, the jobless rate rose from 9.7 per cent in March to 10 and a half per cent in April with the loss of 600 fulltime and 48 hundred part time jobs.

Police Report Strange Incident Uptown Saint John

There was a bit of a car chase that started outside City Hall on Chipman Hill late yesterday afternoon but it didn't last that long, winding up outside the courthouse on Peel Plaza right across from police headquarters. 

It began when a young man was seen urinating on Chipman Hill and when police approached he got back in the car, which turned out to be stolen in Edmunston, and took off. 

One person stayed in the car once it stopped at Peel Plaza but the second man ran down the hill, through the pedway towards Harbour Station. He was eventually arrested in a garbage dumpster along City Road.

(Photo courtesy of Mark McGraw)

Grass Fire Out Of Control In Mohannes

Strong winds giving firefighters a tough time putting out a blaze in Mohannes.

Fire Departments from St. Stephen, Western Charlotte, Oak Bay and Calais responding to a large grass fire on the Mosher Rd -- just outside of St. Stephen.

At least 4 acres are burned black.

One firefighter tells Tide News strong winds and a lack of water sources was making it difficult to put the fire out.

Calais bringing in the portable tank to aide fire trucks with more water as there is no water source near the blaze.

CUPE Supports The NB Pension Coalition's Legal Challenge

CUPE is also pursuing a legal challenge to the shared risk pension model for provincial retirees.

National Rep Mike Davidson tells Tide News they support the fight of the Provincial pension coalition.

He says they don't think their should be any two-tiered pension in New Brunswick and they are fighting to protect them for their actives members and retirees.

Davidson says their members paid hard-earned money into their pension plan they were supposed to receive and now the government has stolen it away.

Moose Season To Be Extended This Year

The moose hunting season is going to be extended this year from three to five days.

The change is in response to a demand for moose licenses that has been as much as 14 times the supply.

The moose quota for the 2014 season will stay the same. The moose draw will be held from May 20 to June 13, and hunting season is the last week of September.

Alward Government Attacked Over Rising Obesity Rate

A failure of leadership...........That's how Liberal M-L-A Donald Arsenault characterises the Alward Government's record on wellness and combating obesity. 

Arsenault accuses the Conservatives of ignoring the initatives that were in place to keep people from becoming ill when they assumed power because they came from the Liberals.
 
According to Aresenault, the national obesity rate is 18 per cent but in New Brunswick, it's 28 per cent.

Firefighters To Recieve Better Training For Shipboard Fires

When you think about all the ships coming in and out of our Port carrying highly flammable cargo, you start to realize the importance of training firefighters to deal with blazes on boats.

Port CEO Jim Quinn announced today that the Port is contributing $75,000 to the fire department's training center on Grandview Avenue. Quinn says we need to support our firefighters.

The money will go toward a fire training simulator that imitates the conditions of a fire on a ship, including the types of stairs, doors, and other features crews might not otherwise be familiar with.

Firefighters were on hand to demonstrate the techniques used in a rooftop rescue prior to the announcement at the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Ship Terminal.

Budget Legislation Has Unanimous Support

Proposed legislation that has all party support will see all election promises costed out before the September 22nd vote. 

Provincial Liberal Leader Brian Gallant tells Tide News he doesn't want to see voters be taken in by unrealistic promises but instead support the party that comes up with a realistic plan to turn around the fortunes of the province. He says his promises will be fiscally prudent

The Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Kevin Lacey says people in the province can't afford any more auctions for their votes as they get hit with higher taxes.
 
Lacey warns unless there are jobs, people will continue moving out of the province.

Copper Thieves Strike Again

There has been yet another theft of copper in the city of Saint John. 

Police say this took place in the dark of night earlier in the week at a vacant home on Mount Pleasant Avenue East. 

 Police have acknowledged an increase in copper thefts of late and they're in the process of coming up with a strategy in response.

Some West Siders Given Boil Order

People who live along a portion of Rodney Street on the lower west side will have to boil their drinking water. 

A localised boil water order has been issued for 229 to 263 Rodney Street because of a water main break. 

A sinkhole developed along part of the street which almost swallowed up an SUV which had to be pulled out by a tow truck. That portion of Rodney Street has now been closed to traffic. 

There's no indication from the city on when the localised boil order will end.

MacDonnell Shares Personal Tragedy But Offers Hopeful Advice

A big crowd enjoying food, fashion, shoes and advice for maintaining your mental health at the  "A Days In Her Shoes" fundraiser.

Women and Wellness founder Helen MacDonnell lost her brother to suicide and to cope began sharing her story with anyone who would listen which lead to many events where thousands of woman have heard her story and were able to share their own.

She offered a few of her 'Helen's hints' which include 7 hugs a day for optimal health.

She also recommends 15 minutes in nature a day to soothe the soul, eating to avoid being hungry and angry and to send letters and write notes to people.

All proceeds from "A Day in Her Shoes" will support the programs of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Saint John.