Lunch Program Founded By Snook In Turmoil

A lunch program that gives hot meals to kids could be folding in the aftermath of a scandal involving its founder: Donnie Snook.

 Judith Arsenault runs the lunch program at Saint John the Baptist School, formerly the Chicken Noodle Club, and she tells CHSJ news they desperately need volunteers and donations, as well as key items like sufficient dishes, despite the $25,000 donation the program recieved from PotashCorp back in December.

She says many people assumed the programs closed after the events of last January but that's not the case and they are still trying to feed hundreds of kids who might otherwise go hungry.

The program at Hazen White St. Francis has already had to close due to lack of volunteers.

Quispamsis Launches Residential Tree Planting Project

If you've ever wanted a tree of your own, a new planting-program in the valley is offering you the opportunity to lay claim to one, all while greening up the community. 

Through Streetscape, you can buy a tree for $30, and it would be planted in the municipal right-of-way this Fall. Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll tells CHSJ News residents are able to sponsor the trees, having one as their own to to weed, feed and take care of.

 You have until June 28 to submit your application. For a list of the types of trees you can buy, click here. For a link to the application form, click here.

Apartment Vacancy Rate Increases - So Does Average Rent

Saint John is posting the highest apartment vacancy rate in the country according to a survey from Canada Mortgage and Housing. 

The survey shows the city's vacancy rate at 10.4-percent at the end of April compared to Edmonton and Calgary where the vacancy rate is 1.2-percent - the lowest in Canada.

As far as average rents are concerned - we appear to be in the middle with an average monthly rent of 703-dollars for a two bedroom apartment.

Vancouver is the most expensive with a two bedroom going for 1255-dollars a month while Saguenay in Quebec posted the lowest average at 560-dollars a month.

Atlantic Red Cross Team Helping Alberta Flood Evacuees

The Canadian Red Cross says a volunteer team from the Maritimes is helping flood evacuees from across Alberta. 

The volunteers are staffing call centres in Saint John, Moncton and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. As of noon on Saturday, 500 calls had been processed at the three operations centres. John Byrne of the group says the centres collect information from flood victims such as where they live and the best way to contact them. 

Several volunteers are on stand-by to be deployed to the flood-ravaged province to manage evacuation and reception centres if need be. 

To support the Red Cross response, you can do so with a financial contribution online at redcross.ca or by calling toll-free 1-800-418-1111 and specifying your donation is for the “Alberta Flood Response.”

Saint John Y Offering Slew Of Summer Day Camps

Whether your child is an aspiring Sherlock Holmes or Picasso, the Saint John Y has a summer day camp for them. 

The Saint John Y is offering 60 day camps this summer The Y's VP of Wellness, Camping and Community Centres, Adrienne Boudreau tells CHSJ News with so many to choose from, no matter what your kid is interested in, there's a camp for them. 

Boudreau says camps are a great way for a child to test the waters of a new hobby, get active and to socialize with other children.

There's an open house at Camp Glenburn on July 6th from noon to 4 p.m. where you can learn more about the program. For a link to the Y's summer guide, click here.

Restauranteurs To Compete In Poutine Cook-Off

It's the ultimate Canadian comfort food, and local restauranteurs will be competing in a cook-off to see who makes it best. 

The first ever Poutinerie Challenge is being held to celebrate St. Jean De Baptiste Day, and the winner of best poutine gets a trophy and bragging rights. Craig Allen is on the Saint John Canada Day committee and tells CHSJ News almost 10 restaurants are competing, and he's looking forward to see what spin they put on the classic Canadian dish. 

It's happening on Monday, June 24. The chefs will start cooking around noon with samples becoming available a half hour later. Allen says it's free, and samples will be given out on a first come, first serve basis.

Three Arrests Made In String of Graffiti

A rash of graffiti in the Kennebecasis Valley leading to three arrests. 

The damage was done to buildings, signs, equipment, and road structures. Two young offenders are facing charges under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and Rothesay Regional Police say they're expecting to make more arrests. 

Police are asking the public to keep an eye out for people doing graffiti, since to get rid of and fix it the damage can cost thousands of dollars.

From Lobster To The Golf Course

Forget the mayo--62 feet of lobster roll brings in a lot of dough.

Chair of the St. Andrews Playground Fundraising Committee Isabelle Micheud says the Lobster Roll-A-Palooza last weekend sold out in 40 minutes and raised over $28 hundred dollars for the restoration of the community playground.

Micheud tells Tide News the next fundraiser is a golf tournament at the Algonquin Resort and if you're interested, teams of 4 can register at the Scotiabank. Micheud says, "And the reason we are asking folks to register at the Scotiabank is because Scotiabank has agreed to match any of the entry fees that are made at the bank." She says the entry fee is $300 for a team of four and they still have room for a few more teams.

Micheud says they have raised $80,000 so far, but need a total of $120,000 by the end of July for the restoration project.

Man Tries ( And Fails ) To Take Stolen Dock For Joyride

A 65 year old man who allegedly stole a floating dock to travel downriver is now facing several charges.

The Fredericton Rowing Club reported the dock missing earlier this week, but it was found 13 kilometres down the shore.

The unidentified Huckleberry Finn wanna-be who was arrested told them he was using the dock to travel to Saint John.

He's facing charges of theft, drug possession and breach of a court order.

Well-Known City Lawyer Gets Jail Time

A well-known Saint John lawyer has been sentenced to 22 months in jail for obstruction of justice.

In 2009 Gillis was representing former Liberal MLA Frank Branch in a civil lawsuit against the North Shore Forest Products Marketing Board and on charges of fraud and extortion.

Gillis was found guilty in January of attempting to obstruct justice by trying to keep witnesses from testifying against his client.

Gillis, who is 66 years old, was formerly was the managing partner at Gilbert McGloan Gillis, but has since resigned. He was also suspended by the New Brunswick Law Society. 

Gillis also represented St. Stephen's Town Manager, John Ferguson, in the defamation lawsuit with the Saint John Pension Board. 

Moore Claims Grace Foundation Approached Him

The Grace Foundation Board Of Directors has issued a public statement, saying that it never asked Rob Moore--or any other political person---to put pressure on Justin Trudeau to return $20,000 the Liberal leader received to speak at a failed fundraiser.

But Moore tells Tide News the exact opposite, saying members of the Grace Foundation solicited his assistance.

The Grace Foundation has further said it is deeply distressed by Moore's comments about the Foundation.

A request for comment on Moore's most recent has not yet been returned.

100 Blood Donors Needed In St. George

Don't forget to donate blood in the summertime.   

Canadian Blood Services wants you to remember the summer months are a time when the need is greatest.

Michelle Thibodeau-Coates of CBS tells Tide News they see a dip in donations during the summer. "They're getting on the road, they are going on vacation, they are out of their regular routine, and they are not donating as often or they are not around enough to make their donations. So it's extremely important this time of year to help them build up a strong inventory."

A blood donor clinic will be held at the Magaguadavic Centre in St. George, tomorrow, from 5-8pm.
CBS says they are looking for at least 100 donors.

To make an appointment, log on to the CBS website at www.blood.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE.

Promise Made On Catastrophic Drug Plan

A complete prescription and catastrophic drug program will be in place before the next provincial election in September of 2014. 

That promise being made by Provincial Health Minister Ted Flemming who says he expects to begin rolling out parts of a catastrophic drug program as early as this fall.
    
Liberal health critic Donald Arseneault is accusing the Alward government of delaying the program in order to buy votes ahead of the next election.     

Flemming denies that, claiming time is needed to make sure it's done right because of the program's complexity.

Man Almost Throws Away Winning Lotto Ticket

A Sussex area man almost threw out a lottery ticket that turned out to be worth nearly 300 thousand dollars.

Randy McElroy of Campbell Settlement bought a Lotto Max ticket for the May 10th draw which sat in his truck for weeks.

He considered throwing it away after hearing gossip that someone had already claimed the prize but is glad he didn't.

He may now take the summer off after collecting a cheque for more than 297 thousand dollars from the Lottery Corporation.

Organizing A Fundraiser For A Woman They Never Met

The idea to raise money for a little girl who lost her mom last month has huge local support.

Deanna King and Terri Kingston started a Facebook group in memory of 33 year old Tanya Shand of Rothesay and within 48 hours it had 5000 people.

Co-organizer Terri Kingston tells Tide News she identifies with Tanya as a mom and she wants to spread awareness about domestic violence.

Kingston says in the end Cheyenne lost both of her parents because of it adding she wants to see an end to domestic violence and she hopes her community would do the same for her and her kids if it happened to her.

The fundraiser for Cheyenne Shand is coming up on Sunday at the Q-plex from 11am to 3pm.  Donations can be made in her name at any TD Canada Trust branch.

MLA Welcomes Protest In To His Office

Our local MLA says he is bringing your concerns to the legislature today.

Charlotte-Campobello MLA Curtis Malloch speaking on a CUPE protest representing nursing home workers that set up in front of his Milltown Blvd. office yesterday in St. Stephen.

Malloch tells Tide News it was a friendly protest and he welcomed them into his office. "We had a great talk. They basically asked from me, you know, 'Will you bring our concerns to the Minister of Social Development' and I said 'I absolutely will.'"

Malloch says the workers are concerned over future cuts to the department and how many of their jobs are on the line after linen services were contracted out to Saint John back in February.

Malloch tells Tide News, right now, the province is doing more for less because we've got no new money to throw at these problems. "I think it's really important that people know that we are trying to find answers, trying to find a way to generate more revenue in the province so we can secure and keep providing the services that we have in place today." Malloch says contracting out the linens is a way to create revenue without disrupting services for residents.

He says he promised the group he would take their concerns to the legislature today, and a meeting has been set for July 4th for CUPE to meet with Minister Madeline Dube.

Motorcycle Driver Suffers Head Injuries In Crash With Deer

A 38 year old man on a motorcycle suffering serious head injuries after a crash this morning with a deer.

The deer died in the crash.

It happened on the highway in Saint John, near the Wall Street exit just before 9.

Eastbound traffic is being re-routed up the Wall street ramp and down again.

Robber Gets Double Recomended Sentence

A 33 year old Saint John man getting more than he bargained for for his part in a major break-in at a home on Old Black River Road. Ashley James Charlton pleading guilty this afternoon to breaking and entering, theft, and breaching a court over.

Police originally received the call back in November of 2012 from a woman who had left shortly after 7am and returned around 4 to find her home destroyed. Everything from jewelry, family photos, food, the oven, light fixtures, cameras, linens and Christmas gifts had been stolen and the place trashed. The victim, a widowed single mother of a special needs child, stated in a victim impact statement the sense of violation was even worse than the loss of $15-thousand dollars worth of items--none of which were ever recovered.

While the crown recommended 6 months in jail, Judge Henrink Tonning called that "insignificant" and gave Charlton double that, saying given the length of his record a year was the least he deserved.

CUPE Protests In Front Of MLA's Office In St. Stephen

Milltown Blvd. being bombarded with a protest in front of Conservative MLA Curtis Malloch's office today.

President of the NB Council of Nursing Home Unions Wayne Brown tells Tide News the province keeps saying there will be no lay-offs, but in reality, there's too much money they are looking to save. "We're here in front of the MLA's office, bringing our concerns to him and that we are not happy with the announcement of sixteen nursing homes losing their linen service, the bedding, the towels, etc that they are now contracting out to Saint John."

Brown says there has been talk about contracting out dietaries or housekeeping services in the homes, and they are worried what will be cut next.
Brown says he doesn't see how $3 million in savings can be reached without someone getting axed.

Curtis Malloch says he welcomed the protestors to his office and promises to bring the issue to the legislature tomorrow.

Prosecution Of Saint John Doctor Delayed

There has been a delay in setting a date for a preliminary hearing on 9 charges of sexual assault laid against a Saint John doctor.
 
More charges were not laid against Dr. Alan Cockeram although his lawyer Brian Munro says they're pending. Munro told the court he was having trouble getting disclosure from the prosecution with the explanation that the investigation is ongoing and he may have to go to the Court of Queen's Bench. 

The prosecution says more people have come forward.

Munro is suggesting some of the complaints may be frivolous. 

The case has been adjourned to July 18th to have a date set for a preliminary hearing.