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- 🦖 Jurassic-sized teeth
🦖 Jurassic-sized teeth
SJ Today
October 28, 2025
Good morning Saint John! Texas just crowned a squirrel named Chunkosaurus Rex the official king of Fat Squirrel Week…a brisket-fed rodent who apparently moves “surprisingly fast” for something shaped like a basketball with a tail. And honestly, respect. Because if you’ve looked outside lately, our own Saint John squirrels are in full bulk-season mode, rage-eating acorns like they’ve got a weigh-in coming.
Here’s what’s hiding in the ground this morning:
Stay-home summer made Saint Andrews popular 🏖️
Youth psych beds coming to Regional 🚪
Just when you thought galleries were safe 🦈
Scroll on for the goods.
-Geoff Walsh, Publisher
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NEWS NOTES
🌞 Summer tourists stayed home and Saint Andrews won
Turns out a soft boycott of U.S. vacations was great news on this side of the border. Provincial attractions saw a 20% jump and hauled in about $1.8B by August. Kingsbrae Garden in Saint Andrews smashed its attendance record with roughly 40,000 paid visitors, up 23%, half from within N.B. Operators say good weather and a spend-it-at-home mood made it feel like revenge travel without the border hassle. Now they winterize and reload for May.
🏥 Saint John finally gets youth psych beds
After years of sending young patients to adult wards or out of town, the province is putting $6.3M into a dedicated in-patient youth psychiatry unit at the Saint John Regional. The five-bed space will deliver specialized, trauma-informed care so families don’t have to drive halfway across New Brunswick when things are already at their worst. Horizon now shifts into planning and build mode so the doors can actually open.
🦈 Megalodon teeth are biting Saint John…again
Shark fans, history buffs, and anyone with a taste for giant prehistoric chompers, listen up. The Jones Auction House is hosting what’s believed to be Canada’s largest collection of megalodon teeth…53 fossilized bite-marked beauties, some over six inches long. Collectors can drool in person Friday and Saturday or bid online until Sunday. Caleb Jones says the collection is a mix of rare, colourful, and scientifically fascinating pieces, proving New Brunswick is hiding some serious deep-time treasures.
👻 Halloween tips for kids and the humans at the door
Saint John Police have the usual stay safe advice this Halloween: plan your route, wear reflective tape, watch for traffic, and travel in groups. Tiny vampires and witches, this means you too—inspect your candy before diving in.
Homeowners, take note: leave your porch dark, leave a small bowl of candy at the end of the driveway, or hand out toothbrushes and floss and you might just find your yard “haunted” by pint-sized tricksters. Bright lights and real treats keep the little monsters happy and your doorstep safe from creative payback…🥚.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored. SJ Today does not condone any Halloween tricks of any kind, but were kids once.
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EVENTS
What’s Happenin’
Halloween Ghost Stories with David Goss | October 28
Loyalist House is turning spooky with two ghost story sessions led by Saint John author David Goss. The first, family-friendly, runs 7-8pm, while the second, a bit spookier, is 8:15-9:15pm. Tickets are $15 ($10 for under 16), so grab yours before they vanish like a ghost! Reserve your spot at [email protected] or (506) 650-8293.
Flu and Covid Vaccines | Thursday, October 30
Fall has arrived, and so has flu season! Stop by St. Mark’s United Church, 50 Dexter Drive, from 3-6 pm for a walk-in clinic offering free flu and Covid shots for everyone. RSV vaccines are also available free for those 75 and older. No appointment needed, just show up and stay healthy this season.
Bubbly Cup Kids Halloween Party | October 30
Bubbly Cup is throwing its spookiest party yet for kids…costumes highly encouraged, because the best one snags a $10 gift card. From 4:30-6:30pm they’ll load them up with hot chocolate, fries and chicken popcorn, crafts, painting, mask colouring and a cookie-decorating kit, plus a candy loot bag. Cost is $24.99 per child or $39.99 for two siblings. Message the café to book before it disappears.
Simonds Lions Club Bingo | Thursdays
The Simonds Lions are calling “Bingo!” every Thursday at their auditorium in Loch Lomond Villa. Doors swing open at 7pm, and the evening promises a fun, friendly crowd and a chance to test your luck (and maybe your lucky dabber). Whether you’re a regular or a first-timer, it’s a great way to spend a Thursday night.
Your Will, Your Legacy | Thursday, November 6
Not sure where to start with a will—or leaving a gift to charity? The YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick Endowment Fund is hosting a free session to demystify estate planning and legacy giving. At 6pm on November 6, you can learn the basics of wills, how to protect your family, and how your values can live on through charitable giving. RSVP at https://forms.office.com/r/V75YhQFLns and get your future planned with confidence.
Hands in the Current Screenings | November 6 & 12
ECW’s documentary Hands in the Current: Stories of Work, Water, and Home dives into life along southwest New Brunswick’s coast and why protecting the Bay of Fundy matters. Catch it in St. Stephen on Nov 6 at Sharpe’s Creative or St. George on Nov 12 at Magaguadavic Place. Both shows are free, no registration needed, include a second local film, light refreshments, and don’t forget your reusable mug!
Gabriel’s Message Christmas Concert | December 6
Get into the holiday spirit with Gabriel’s Message, a stunning Christmas choral program at Stella Maris Church, 201 Bayside Drive. Cantores Celestes Maritimes and the Saint John Men’s Chorus, under Kelly Galbraith, will perform music from all eras, joined by the Cantores Celestes String Quartet and accompanists Emily Shute and Dr. Kevin Langford. Expect Ceremony of Carols, In Dulci Jubilo, and a thrilling Hallelujah Chorus finale. Tickets $25, wheelchair accessible, with $500 donated to a local charity.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.
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SIDE NOTES
Today’s Tides 🌊
High Tide | 4:50 AM(Tue 28 October) | 6.55 m(21.49 ft) |
Low Tide | 10:59 AM(Tue 28 October) | 2.38 m(7.81 ft) |
High Tide | 5:08 PM(Tue 28 October) | 6.85 m(22.47 ft) |
Low Tide | 11:32 PM(Tue 28 October) | 2.07 m(6.79 ft) |
🏈 Local teams keep the playoff dreams alive
Weekend football in Saint John delivered nail-biters. The Greyhounds edged out Fredericton High 27-20 and now host Moncton High’s Purple Knights in the provincial semifinal Friday at 7 pm at UNBSJ’s Canada Games Stadium. Meanwhile, the Saints pulled off a 26-23 win over Leo Hayes and head to Riverview Saturday at 1 pm to take on the Royals. Big cheers to both teams! Let’s keep those Friday night lights shining bright!
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Thanks!
Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who knows where all the good snacks are buried 🍫.
-Geoff Walsh - Publisher