The Hurricane Bill Show

Hurricane Bill turned out to be a breeze for Saint John - thankfully.

Saints Rest beach attracted many spectators, none the less. The surf was definitely strong enough to pull a person out into the water. That didn't deter people from tempting fate.

It's amazing what nature can create; what are the chances of wind, water, and tides creating this?:

Art Gallery?

At a recent city council meeting (according to the August 17th agenda) Councillor Snook presented a motion to explore costs associated with a "graffiti management plan", and council members received information on Halifax's anti-graffiti program.

Graffiti can be a big problem. Defacing public and private property, and costs associated with clean-up, are serious considerations. I read recently about a two different approaches to controlling graffiti.

In Calgary this past weekend Urbanburn2 - an outdoor youth and art festival - addressed "artistic expression through vandalism" in a positive way. Artists exhibited their work and explored "non-destructive" means of graffiti. They were taught about public art and community involvement.

Meanwhile, according to a recent CBC article, the City of Calgary has given a "legal zone" to graffiti artists. From the article:

Dawn Ford, with the City of Calgary, said the project carries a positive message. "One of our goals is to visually animate our city and make it much more vibrant, and in a space like Shaw Millennium Park we're looking at targeting the art ... to the community that uses that park," Ford said.

On the other end of the spectrum, the city of Los Angeles is taking a very serious tone regarding graffiti. I read a story in the LA Times that reports the city's Attorney wants to give police the power to arrest taggers who congregate, they don't have to be caught doing anything illegal.

Not surprisingly there are many vocal critics to this proposal, ranging from representatives of civil liberties organizations to law enforcement officials.

How does this relate to the West Side? I am posting pictures of graffiti found on the west side. It is very impressive, and I would consider it to be non-destructive as it is found on an abandoned foundation near the water.

Sand Sculpture Contest at New River Beach

I did not attend the sand sculpture contest at New River Beach this weekend, but I drove by the area. I haven't heard how many people attended, but by the number of cars parked on the Saint John side of the entrance, I'd say the event was a success.

St Andrews Visit

I recently was in St. Andrews - it's been a while since I visited there. It was hopping busy. The murals on Water Street are a nice addition.

I had great coffee at Honeybeans Coffee, Tea and Treats, 157 Water Street. It's owned by couple from Alberta who moved to St Andrews last year. The coffee is roasted in Halifax, and the treats are made locally. Check it out.

Zellers Reopening and Lancaster Mall update

Zellers in Lancaster Mall had their official reopening today, after months of renovation. Apparently there were shoppers lined up outside the store at 6:30am. The store looks bright and clean, a great improvement. Can't wait for the parking lot reconstruction to be finished!

Java Moose also opened in Lancaster Mall this week. The new shop is looking good - a nice addition to the mall. They don't yet have the full menu that the other stores have - but hope to offer it soon.



The mall entrance to Zellers will open later this week. The area shown in the photo below will house the SJ Transit Lounge. The mall entrance to Zellers is on the left.

Why doesn't the SJ Police Force have a website?

I find it curious that the Saint John Police Force does not have its own website. The municipal web presence for the force is virtually non-exist ant. Many local and regional forces have their own sites, such as: Fredericton, and Rothesay, and larger cities like Halifax have a very comprehensive website with lots of useful information.

Kayak Tours from Dominion Park Beach

I dropped by Dominion Park this morning. It was an incredibly balmy day, and the crowd hadn't arrived yet, so it was very peaceful. Go Fundy Events was set up with their kayaks, ready to take out a group on a guided tour. Apparently business is good, and the cruise ship passengers keep the staff busy. They are set up on the beach most days, and I'm thinking about calling to arrange a tour. Their website says:

No previous kayaking or travel experience is necessary- we have all the experience you need!

I can relate to that. Sure looks like fun.

The New Bus Schedules Are Here!!

And they're not easy to find.

McAllister Place info booth has given away their entire supply, and not too many other locations have received them yet. I found some at the magazine store in Lancaster Mall. In any case, it looks like passengers are going to take a while to get used to the changes.

Housing Development not Developing

I was happy to read recently that Councilor McGuire is going to look into the (apparently abandoned) townhouse project on the corner of Prince St. and Lancaster Ave., formerly the site of the DVA (Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs) Hospital. Evidently he has received calls from residents about what has unfortunately turned into an eyesore. I pass by the site frequently and the once promising development has obviously run into serious problems. I can recall the anticipation when then-Mayor McFarlane made the announcement on the development, way back in 2006, I think, maybe it was 2005. It’s a shame it didn’t pan out, the location is really good.

A sign on the Prince Street side says “Rockingstone Estates – Development Opportunity – For Sale / Mawhinney Real Estate”. I checked the Rockingstone Estates website and it looks like nothing has been added since the project was a few months’ old, and the Mawhinney site appears to be selling some of the properties.

Minutes from the Planning Advisory Committee March 22, 2005 meeting record the presentation from Fulton Surveys Ltd on behalf of Norm Ganong to develop the site. In a TJ article three years later - March 11, 2008 the developer, Norm Ganong, said the amount of paperwork was much more than he anticipated and he had to halt work in the fall of 2006 because he hadn't completed a developer's agreement with the city. Apparently the plan was to build 74 units on the site, to sell for between $225,000 and $250,000, and he hoped to resume building in April 2008. Seems to me that’s way too many for the site, however, I would like to see some housing on the site; we certainly need it in the city.

Just across Prince Street is a nice redevelopment of the former Red Cross Lodge. I am not sure if it houses condos or apartments, but they are on the pricey side. The owner has done a great job.

Feel-good Shopping - sounds like a plan!

Hospice of Greater Saint John is embarking on a unique (to this region) fund-raising venture to assist with the cost of running the Hospice Residence.

The Hospice Shoppe is being touted as "An Upscale Resale Experience - an upscale boutique where savvy shoppers will find one-of-a-kind clothing and décor items at the best prices in town." The shop will sell quality, used and new clothing and other items, that have been donated. The location has undergone extensive renovations and is operating with a large volunteer bank, and one Hospice staff member.

Apparently there are successful models of this type of fund-raising venture in Canada and the USA. A great idea, I hope it is a big success for the agency.

Opening day is July 21. The shop is located at 77 Catherwood Street (corner of Ready Street and Catherwood), in the Gamezilla building, formerly the location of Value Frenchy's.

More information on hours and how and what kind of of item to donate can be found on the Hospice website.