It’s the stupid economy
EDITORIAL
Want to know what kind of year 2008 was? If we were smart, we could have seen it coming almost a full year ago, back in January, when CEOs from New Brunswick’s own forestry industry toured the province lobbying for help.
Kelly Shotbolt, from Flakeboard, joined Fraser Papers’ Peter Gordon and James Irving from JDI to meet with community leaders all over the province to explain their plight.
The three CEOs represent three-quarters of what’s left of the province’s forest products industry and they said they needed help. Who know then that “bailout” would become the buzz word of 2008. But they weren’t asking for the type of help that has become so popular in the last quarter of 2008. They weren’t asking for cash to keep them afloat like the auto makers and the housing markets have asked for – and received. They asked for fair energy rates and a steady supply of raw materials. They wanted government and the public to realize they were under pressure.
We certainly know now. And that’s why our choice for news story of the year in 2008 is The Economy.
The collapse in American markets has had a huge impact here in Charlotte County. Manufacturers of wood products, such as Flakeboard and SWP Industries have felt the sting as new home starts have withered and foreclosures have boomed. With no one building new homes, the orders for melamine furniture aren’t piling up. There have been layoffs and shutdowns but so far Flakeboard has managed to keep the St. Stephen mill open.
The economy is also affecting another major industry in Charlotte County – the lobster fishery. Prices have hit a 30-year low and lobster fishermen have to seriously think about whether it’s even worth their while to head out on the water. As 2009 dawns, Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet is on a mission to find new markets, reducing our dependence on American seafood lovers who currently account for 85 per cent of New Brunswick seafood sales.
The Economy could well be our story of the year in 2009 as well as economists predict we have not yet seen the worst.
Here, in no particular order, are some of 2008’s other headline grabbers – some of which will continue to play out across the front pages over the next year and beyond…
LNG FAILURES
While Passamaquoddy Bay has not been abandoned by American liquefied natural gas developers, a handful of proposed projects have had the legs kicked out from under them. The American Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has dismissed Quoddy Bay LNG’s permit applications to import LNG into a proposed terminal on the Maine shore of Passamaquoddy Bay while Downeast LNG remains active but has withdrawn its state permit application. Calais LNG continues to work through the process to win approval to bring the LNG industry to Washington County.
Across the bay in Canada, opposition to the developments remains firm. That opposition extends from seaside communities such as St. Andrews all the way to Sussex Drive in Ottawa. The developments of the past year are encouraging to LNG’s opponents – and there are many – but this story is far from over.
JAMER EXPANSION
Late in 2008 the granite quarrying company Jamer Materials dropped a bomb. It has applied to expand from the Bayside Port area across Highway 127.
The announcement wasn’t a complete surprise. People who live in the area and in the nearby town of St. Andrews knew full well that the company owns the land and that there are indeed rocks in them there hills. Still, when word came down that the application process was officially in motion, quarry opponents were dismayed.
The quarry’s operators insist they can excavate granite from the area without destroying it for other uses. Those uses include drinking water as the Town of St. Andrews gets its water from Chamcook Lake. Mayor John Craig insists quarry expansion will destroy the water supply and harm the town irrevocably.
Opponents lined up against the quarry expansion also include Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson, who lives on Chamcook Lake, and a group of residents and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking the hills.
This is another big newsmaker of 2008 that will continue to be a major story in 2009.
UNEXPLAINABLE
The vicious beating of war veteran Herbert Matthews shocked and saddened us. This story captured widespread attention for its senselessness and its impact. A young man was sent to prison for kicking and punching Matthews to the ground, causing injuries that have changed his life.
Matthews, who was waiting at the L’Etete ferry dock as he so often did, was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he encountered a drunk young man who harassed him then beat him down.
THE WAR HITS HOME
Just this month the St. Stephen community felt first-hand what so many other Canadian communities and families have felt as the wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq continue.
Regardless of where you stand on the war, you had to feel for the Deering family when they learned their boy, Pte. Chris Deering, had been involved in a bombing while patrolling outside Kandahar.
It was a tense few days as Deering was being treated in Germany. The other three soldiers in the vehicle he was riding in died in the blast and his survival was uncertain. He has since rebounded and is recovering at home.
TRANSPORTATION
It’s been good news all around in terms of transportation infrastructure in Charlotte County.
Islanders are happy over the prospect of a new ferry coming online for Grand Manan, likely by 2010.
A new section of four-land highway has opened between St. Stephen and Waweig, giving motorists a taste of what’s to come as the highway twinning continues on through places like Pennfield all the way to Saint John.
Highway twinning and the opening of the new international border crossing will continue to be a newsmaker in 2009 as life in the St. Stephen area is about to change forever.
Showing posts with label Charlotte County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charlotte County. Show all posts
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Residents oppose Sunbury Shores rezoning
I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed rezoning of the parcel of land on Joe’s Point Road, PID # 01323559, as requested by Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre Inc.
This land should definitely remain zoned as environmentally significant because it is exactly that. It is one of the very few scraps of natural landscape left within the Town limits. The negative impact on the water, trees, plants, birds and wildlife on this tract of land would be major and irreparable. Such destruction of natural habitat is completely contradictory to everything Sunbury Shores has stood for since its founding as well as contradictory to all the environmental goals of the Town of St. Andrews and Canada as a whole at this pressing time of global change.
The Town has more than enough overpriced, oversized summer residences to accommodate non-residents. Adding a few more at the cost of our environment would be imprudent at best, the tax dollars negligible to the costs incurred by development and the potential sale proceeds would not resolve a management issue at Sunbury Shores now or in the years to come. Please do not rezone this land.
Mary Casement
St. Andrews
Sale of Sunbury Shores land unethical
I have been following the ongoing story line regarding Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre for the past number of months with some disappointment.
I personally am left scratching my head over this one.
How can an organization that is supposed to be built on the connection of art and nature consider it ethical to sell out nature in favour of its existence? I was looking on their website and was completely dumbstruck to see in their open letter that this will have no effect on the town and that there will be seven tastefully built estates on the land. It is personally shocking how an organization like Sunbury Shores could even put out a media piece with those words in it.
Let me tell you one thing there is nothing tasteful about a housing development taking over green space. And to use a line like it will be beneficial to the town because of the tax dollars it will generate seems very corporate and anti-environmental.
I understand the pressures that non-profit organizations like Sunbury Shores face, but I also always believed that non-profits existed for the benefit of the communities they served. In this case it seems that they are saying that the environment is going to take a back seat to saving some man made structures. Well guess what we can always build a building but you never get a green space back. Sunbury Shores may well get there $400,000 for an endowment fund but how is that going to help in the long run. If what they are doing currently just isn’t sustainable than perhaps they need to take a longer look at what they are doing and if it still has relevance in its form.
The second part of this equation lies with our town councillors. Once again I am confused how we can be so adamantly opposed to something like an LNG facility across the river, yet at the same time continue to consider these types of development that take away the natural beauty that we all find so inspiring. Maybe we need to start looking after our own house (no pun intended)!
We seem to be under constant bombardment of these types of developments in the town. Look at what we have lost just over the past decade and the loss of waterfront views due to housing construction. I implore the town to keep this land as green space.
I have definitely become jaded over the years from seeing these things play out and in the end happen; and I have to admit seeing that no trespassing sign go up on the Two Meadows trail was painful to swallow. If there was ever a community of people who I would never suspect of doing this it would be a group of artists and naturalists. From my viewpoint it does nothing but alienate the people the organization serves and more importantly potential clients of the organization. Where is the leadership when we need it most from this organization – step up be brave and innovative and don’t give us a corporate message of its our land and we can do with it as we like. There are many in St. Andrews that see Sunbury Shores not as that building down on Water Street but that Nature Trail and I wonder within the town if you asked people to choose what they would pick a building or nature?
However I don’t want to just pick away at Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre. I must also look at myself and my fellow citizens. Art, culture and the environment are magical components that make communities thrive but are always taken for granted and thus under funded. We need to support these areas by being proactive both with our time and with financial support. I have personally benefited from Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre’s existence having used that trail over the years as well as taking courses at the centre.
It would definitely be a great loss to see the organization disappear but I would put forward not as great as losing this green space.
Surely there must be another way because I fear if this sale does happen not only will we lose a precious piece of nature but we will eventually lose Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre!
Jonathan Foster
St. Andrews
Sunbury Shores must preserve nature trail
We are writing this letter regarding the rezoning request of Sunbury Shores to allow the development of land that has been used for close to 40 years as a public nature trail here in St. Andrews.
Although Sunbury Shores may indeed have the legal right to sell the land, we share many concerns with others in the town about the impact of any residential development on this property. And, given the mission of Sunbury Shores, to explore the connections between art and nature, we feel strongly that the organization has the obligation and responsibility to its members and to the town of St. Andrews to maintain the land on Joe's Point Road, a very special and rare piece of open, natural land within the town, as a nature trail.
We recall the fascinating evening we spent on the Sunbury Shores trail two or three years ago, exploring owl habitat and learning various owl vocalizations with guidance from a visiting ornithologist from UNB, as well as great times walking our dog and also skiing and snowshoeing on the trail in winter.
Many people have expressed the view that St. Andrews should retain as much green space as possible, especially given the loss some years ago of the trail from Katy's Cove to the Bar Road, when the town declined to take ownership of the railway right of way. Visitors and residents alike have historically been attracted to St. Andrews because of its walking trails.
Sunbury Shores should revisit its decision to sell this property. If the organization is having financial difficulties, it should have a membership drive, solicit grants and donations, do a capital campaign or through other activities, solicit the support of the town and its residents in order to resolve these problems. The town should also do its utmost to support and direct Sunbury Shores to assure that the trail remains in its natural state and open to the public.
Should this development of high-end "trophy" homes become a reality, we are also concerned that the adjoining property belonging to UNB will fall into the hands of a developer. Regardless whether or not this is a real possibility, St. Andrews has a plethora of homes on the market, and there seems to be no logical reason (aside from greed) for building more homes when there is so much available housing in the town.
Perhaps the town should strike a deal with Sunbury Shores and UNB to create a permanently protected park on this property. Many residents who feel strongly about retaining this lovely piece of nature for the enjoyment of everyone would likely be willing to support this effort financially and/or with volunteer time.
Isn't it worth a try? We sure think it is.
Lee Ann Ward and Larry Lack
St. Andrews
This land should definitely remain zoned as environmentally significant because it is exactly that. It is one of the very few scraps of natural landscape left within the Town limits. The negative impact on the water, trees, plants, birds and wildlife on this tract of land would be major and irreparable. Such destruction of natural habitat is completely contradictory to everything Sunbury Shores has stood for since its founding as well as contradictory to all the environmental goals of the Town of St. Andrews and Canada as a whole at this pressing time of global change.
The Town has more than enough overpriced, oversized summer residences to accommodate non-residents. Adding a few more at the cost of our environment would be imprudent at best, the tax dollars negligible to the costs incurred by development and the potential sale proceeds would not resolve a management issue at Sunbury Shores now or in the years to come. Please do not rezone this land.
Mary Casement
St. Andrews
Sale of Sunbury Shores land unethical
I have been following the ongoing story line regarding Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre for the past number of months with some disappointment.
I personally am left scratching my head over this one.
How can an organization that is supposed to be built on the connection of art and nature consider it ethical to sell out nature in favour of its existence? I was looking on their website and was completely dumbstruck to see in their open letter that this will have no effect on the town and that there will be seven tastefully built estates on the land. It is personally shocking how an organization like Sunbury Shores could even put out a media piece with those words in it.
Let me tell you one thing there is nothing tasteful about a housing development taking over green space. And to use a line like it will be beneficial to the town because of the tax dollars it will generate seems very corporate and anti-environmental.
I understand the pressures that non-profit organizations like Sunbury Shores face, but I also always believed that non-profits existed for the benefit of the communities they served. In this case it seems that they are saying that the environment is going to take a back seat to saving some man made structures. Well guess what we can always build a building but you never get a green space back. Sunbury Shores may well get there $400,000 for an endowment fund but how is that going to help in the long run. If what they are doing currently just isn’t sustainable than perhaps they need to take a longer look at what they are doing and if it still has relevance in its form.
The second part of this equation lies with our town councillors. Once again I am confused how we can be so adamantly opposed to something like an LNG facility across the river, yet at the same time continue to consider these types of development that take away the natural beauty that we all find so inspiring. Maybe we need to start looking after our own house (no pun intended)!
We seem to be under constant bombardment of these types of developments in the town. Look at what we have lost just over the past decade and the loss of waterfront views due to housing construction. I implore the town to keep this land as green space.
I have definitely become jaded over the years from seeing these things play out and in the end happen; and I have to admit seeing that no trespassing sign go up on the Two Meadows trail was painful to swallow. If there was ever a community of people who I would never suspect of doing this it would be a group of artists and naturalists. From my viewpoint it does nothing but alienate the people the organization serves and more importantly potential clients of the organization. Where is the leadership when we need it most from this organization – step up be brave and innovative and don’t give us a corporate message of its our land and we can do with it as we like. There are many in St. Andrews that see Sunbury Shores not as that building down on Water Street but that Nature Trail and I wonder within the town if you asked people to choose what they would pick a building or nature?
However I don’t want to just pick away at Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre. I must also look at myself and my fellow citizens. Art, culture and the environment are magical components that make communities thrive but are always taken for granted and thus under funded. We need to support these areas by being proactive both with our time and with financial support. I have personally benefited from Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre’s existence having used that trail over the years as well as taking courses at the centre.
It would definitely be a great loss to see the organization disappear but I would put forward not as great as losing this green space.
Surely there must be another way because I fear if this sale does happen not only will we lose a precious piece of nature but we will eventually lose Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre!
Jonathan Foster
St. Andrews
Sunbury Shores must preserve nature trail
We are writing this letter regarding the rezoning request of Sunbury Shores to allow the development of land that has been used for close to 40 years as a public nature trail here in St. Andrews.
Although Sunbury Shores may indeed have the legal right to sell the land, we share many concerns with others in the town about the impact of any residential development on this property. And, given the mission of Sunbury Shores, to explore the connections between art and nature, we feel strongly that the organization has the obligation and responsibility to its members and to the town of St. Andrews to maintain the land on Joe's Point Road, a very special and rare piece of open, natural land within the town, as a nature trail.
We recall the fascinating evening we spent on the Sunbury Shores trail two or three years ago, exploring owl habitat and learning various owl vocalizations with guidance from a visiting ornithologist from UNB, as well as great times walking our dog and also skiing and snowshoeing on the trail in winter.
Many people have expressed the view that St. Andrews should retain as much green space as possible, especially given the loss some years ago of the trail from Katy's Cove to the Bar Road, when the town declined to take ownership of the railway right of way. Visitors and residents alike have historically been attracted to St. Andrews because of its walking trails.
Sunbury Shores should revisit its decision to sell this property. If the organization is having financial difficulties, it should have a membership drive, solicit grants and donations, do a capital campaign or through other activities, solicit the support of the town and its residents in order to resolve these problems. The town should also do its utmost to support and direct Sunbury Shores to assure that the trail remains in its natural state and open to the public.
Should this development of high-end "trophy" homes become a reality, we are also concerned that the adjoining property belonging to UNB will fall into the hands of a developer. Regardless whether or not this is a real possibility, St. Andrews has a plethora of homes on the market, and there seems to be no logical reason (aside from greed) for building more homes when there is so much available housing in the town.
Perhaps the town should strike a deal with Sunbury Shores and UNB to create a permanently protected park on this property. Many residents who feel strongly about retaining this lovely piece of nature for the enjoyment of everyone would likely be willing to support this effort financially and/or with volunteer time.
Isn't it worth a try? We sure think it is.
Lee Ann Ward and Larry Lack
St. Andrews
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Top 6 - Charlotte County's Got Talent
Chuck Brown photo
CROWD-PLEASIN' COLIN RICHARDS, THE HUMAN BEATBOXIn case you missed it this morning on The Border 102.9 - here's your Top 6 in Charlotte County's Got Talent...
James DiPaolo
Nick Gay
29 and Holding
David Humphreys
Colin Richards
T-Crew
The Top 6 show is Tuesday, May 27, 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) at the St. Stephen High School Theatre
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Anthony Soulja Boy Enman performs tonight
The election is old news now... it's on to other burning issues such as the election of Charlotte County's NEXT BIG TALENT...
Tonight is Top 10 night for Charlotte County's Got Talent and as one of the crowd's four favourite judges, I can't wait to see everyone step it up.
Also on tap is host/producer (I called him just "host" once and never saw my cat again) Anthony Enman who promises to show us his Soulja Boy dance.
SHOW TIME IS 7:30 p.m. in the St. Stephen High School sweatatorium.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Charlotte County's Got Talent Top 10
FROM CCGT PRODUCER/HOST/DANCE MACHINE ANTHONY ENMAN...
The Top 10 has been decided. After two great weeks of preliminary shows the audience and judges have chosen who they want to see carry on in the competition.
The Contestants to move on:
Rachel Gay
T-Crew
James DiPaolo
Colin Richards
Twenty-Nine and Holding
Ashley Lord
Nick Gay
Swollen Graves
David Humphries
Jennifer Blackier
As the weeks get fewer the competition gets even more fierce as things heat up on the talent stage.
Dont Miss Show 3 of CCGT.
Charlotte County's Got Talent
Show 3
TOP 10
Where: St. Stephen High School
When: Tuesday, May 13th
Time: Doors Open: 7:00pm/Show Starts: 7:30pm
Admission: $5
Who Will Be Charlotte County's Next Big Talent?!?
The Top 10 has been decided. After two great weeks of preliminary shows the audience and judges have chosen who they want to see carry on in the competition.
The Contestants to move on:
Rachel Gay
T-Crew
James DiPaolo
Colin Richards
Twenty-Nine and Holding
Ashley Lord
Nick Gay
Swollen Graves
David Humphries
Jennifer Blackier
As the weeks get fewer the competition gets even more fierce as things heat up on the talent stage.
Dont Miss Show 3 of CCGT.
Charlotte County's Got Talent
Show 3
TOP 10
Where: St. Stephen High School
When: Tuesday, May 13th
Time: Doors Open: 7:00pm/Show Starts: 7:30pm
Admission: $5
Who Will Be Charlotte County's Next Big Talent?!?
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Courier Weekend - Friday, May 9, 2008
It's Thursday afternoon, 3:53 p.m. and the Courier Weekend is just about ready for press. That means if you're, say, a candidate in the May 12 municipal election this would be an excellent time for you to steal something, punch something or run naked through town. We don't publish again until after the election.
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