New Retail Activity

More retail activity talk on the Westside.  Chit chat (again) says a Kent’s is preparing to build on the corner of Catherwood & Fairville Blvd.  In the Lancaster Mall the Coco Beach Salon closed its doors abruptly last week; I believe they had many customers who will be unhappy at this turn of events.Too bad for a local individual who tried to make it in the small business world.  (I imagine the rent is substantial in the mall). Also in Lancaster Mall, Zeller’s is winding down operations in preparation for closing in early June to make way for Wal-Mart.  I recently spoke to a woman who has worked there for 35 years (K-Mart / Zellers), there would be plenty of stories to tell.   The store’s fixtures are for sale as is the restaurant equipment.  I have not heard when the Wal-Mart will open.

Princess of Acadia will float for a while longer

Good news that the governments of NB & NS have invested 6 million in the SJ - Digby Ferry.  Need to keep this running.

SJ Police on the web

I have long wondered why the Saint John Police Force didn't have a website ... well I see they now do. Just launched at saintjohnpolice.ca it's definitely a work in progress.  According to the site:

An enhanced web presence was a key initiative resulting from the Police Force's 2011 communication strategy.
"Our goal is to provide a useful source of information," says Chief Bill Reid, "our new presence will also build relationships with community by enabling interaction and communicating the our goals and core strategies."
Phase 2 will include more interactive features and social media. It is expected to be launched later in 2012.

It's a start.  And an important resource for the community.

Coyotes Around the Area

I've been hearing various reports of a coyote seen around the Sheldon's Point area.  Keep your pets on a leash.

Dangerous Curves

I have often found myself holding my breath on a section of Prince Street anticipating how the road conditions would play out.  The area just below the site of the former DVA hospital, (now an incomplete townhouse development site)  is a downhill curve that rarely sees sunlight (water can't evaporate) and there is a lot of water (or ice) collecting on the street from the un-landscaped site.  It's a very slippery slope and for those who don't take the route regularly it's potentially dangerous.

Couldn't the T-J offer something like this?

for their online edition ... just to sample it?

How does this stuff happen?? While writing this post today the T-J called about my soon-to-expire subscription, and offered me a month of the online edition for 99 cents if I renewed my home delivery.

Seaside Park

It's a shame the stairs at Seaside Park have fallen into a state of such disrepair.  I think this set of stairs was built about 20 years ago using money from the province and municipality.  A combination of vandalism, neglect, and natural erosion of the surrounding area has caused the stairs to basically crumble onto the breach below.  

I can't image we'll see similar funding for similar projects in the near future.

Junked cars at the lower west terminal

This image is "as close-up as I could get" of the remains of junk cars at the port on the west side.

Repurposing Canada Post (boxes)

We've all seen old shipping containers used for various purposes, housing seems to be one most often cited,
but what can we do with old Canada Post mail boxes? It was inevitable that they'd be / will be, phased out.  Can't you just see them dotting rural roads- being used to store garbage instead of old freezers?

Is no news better than good news?

I must admit I am disappointed that the canadaeast.com / Telegraph Journal online access is now quite pricey. I am a print edition subscriber, and the incentive to pay around 20 dollars per month to search online is not present. I understand that news is “business” and NB Publishing has to make money to be viable, but as a comparison, the NYTimes offers several options. The priciest is 35.00 per month for:

• Unlimited access to NYTimes.com from any device.
• Unlimited access to the NYTimes app for BlackBerry®, iPhone®, Windows® Phone 7 and Android™-powered phones.
• Unlimited access to our new Election 2012 app for iPhone.
• Unlimited access to the NYTimes app for iPad®, the NYTimes App for the Chrome Web Store and Times Reader 2.0.
• New: Share your All Digital Access with a family member.
• After the introductory period, your rate will be $8.75 per week, billed every four weeks.

They are offering an introductory trial for 99 cents for the first four weeks, this is a great idea to pull you in.  I don't even know what I am missing by not subscribing the the online edition of the TJ, haven't had a peek at the new version.

Significantly -  “Print subscribers to The New York Times get a free All Digital Access subscription.”  And there are discounts for university students. 

The jury is out on this one.