Good morning, Saint John! Halloween’s over, but the scariest thing we’ve seen all month is three travellers caught trying to fly out of Peru with 3,000 tarantulas hidden in socks in their luggage. Suddenly, losing your suitcase sounds like the best possible thing this trip.
Here’s the lowdown for the day:
An empty lot to pay for 🏚️
Flushed out of Harbour Passage 🚽
The Valley’s got plenty on its plate 🍽️
Let’s get it!
-Geoff Walsh, Publisher
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NEWS NOTES
Empty lots could get expensive 🏚️
Owning a vacant property in Saint John could eventually come with an extra bill, even when nobody's using the place.
It's potentially a big deal uptown, where an empty property can mean one less home, storefront or business on the block. The catch is that Saint John would have to decide whether to introduce the levy. Nothing's been approved locally, and nobody's getting a new bill just yet.
Saint John's got some good faces 🌟
Saint John has plenty of people doing good things without making much noise about it. Here's your chance to make some noise for them.
Fusion Saint John is accepting nominations for its 2027 Faces of Fusion awards, recognizing locals making a difference through business, leadership and community involvement. Three finalists will be selected in each of five categories, and a new Fusion Alumni Legacy Award is joining the mix.
Next year's ceremony also marks Fusion's 25th anniversary, with the celebration happening February 19 at Imperial Theatre. You can nominate more than one person, so there's no need to pick a favourite.
More patients, fewer waiting 🩺
Finding a family doctor in New Brunswick has been a long-running exercise in patience. The province says another 6,768 people have now been connected to primary care since September.
That means more residents have been matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner, with collaborative care clinics, including work in Hampton, part of the province's effort to improve access.
There's still a considerable lineup. Roughly 29% of Medicare registrants remain without a primary care provider, so the latest numbers are progress rather than a victory lap. Still, for thousands of New Brunswickers, getting someone to call when they're sick is a pretty meaningful improvement.
A wee bit of bad news 🚻
Bad news if you love walking Harbour Passage but always need to know where the closest bathroom is. The public washrooms at Place Fort La Tour are now closed for the season.
Might want to go before…you go.
Top clicks of the week 🏆
Monday - Rally Reader gets NB kids reading
Tuesday - Men of the Deeps celebrate 60 years
Wednesday - Listen to local musician Andrew Clark
Thursday - Flavours of the Valley food event
*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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EVENTS
What’s Happenin’
What we’re doing this weekend
KV Old Boys Country Music Show | November 7
The KV Old Boys’ 14th annual fundraiser brings a lineup of local country performers to Kennebecasis Valley High School Theatre at 7pm. New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Famer Steve Lyons hosts, with performers including Steve Sear, Mike Frontin, Bev Dean and Crystal Jones. Tickets are $20, supporting people in the community who need a hand.
Flavours of the Valley | November 7
Sample food and drinks from Kennebecasis Valley restaurants, wineries and breweries at the qplex from 7–9:30pm. The evening includes live and silent auctions and a cash bar. Tickets are $75, supporting Saint David’s United Church’s outreach and community care programs. Call 506-847-7137 for ticket information.
Saint John Flames vs. Elsipogtog Hawks | November 7
The Saint John Flames host the Elsipogtog Hawks at Lord Beaverbrook Rink, with puck drop at 7pm. Get a few friends together for an evening of local senior hockey. Tickets are available through the event page.
Sea Dogs Watch Party | November 8
Cheer on the Saint John Sea Dogs as they visit the Charlottetown Islanders, with the game broadcast on Market Square’s Atrium big screen at 3pm. Wear your team colours and join other fans for an afternoon that also includes games and prizes.
Men of the Deeps: 60th Anniversary | November 8
Cape Breton’s coal miners’ chorus celebrates 60 years with an evening of songs and stories drawn from mining life. The anniversary show honours the miners and communities behind the music, with a performance at the Imperial Theatre at 7:30pm. Tickets are $58.75.
*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.
LOCAL PICS
WHERE WERE WE WEDNESDAY? 📸
📍 On Wednesday, we shared a snap of some odds and ends behind a fence and asked if you knew where to find them. Turns out they're right next to the Marco Polo replica near Long Wharf. Shout out to Donna J., Fallon B., Ian J., Tom C., Jenn B., Cody A. and Chip L. for knowing the spot!
Got some great local pics in your camera roll? Share them with us so we can share them with the rest of city right here!
SIDE NOTES
🌅 7:10am | 🌇 5:04pm
Today’s Tides 🌊
Low Tide | 3:13 AM(Fri 06 November) | 1.24 m(4.07 ft) |
High Tide | 9:22 AM(Fri 06 November) | 7.65 m(25.1 ft) |
Low Tide | 3:40 PM(Fri 06 November) | 1.14 m(3.72 ft) |
High Tide | 9:50 PM(Fri 06 November) | 7.52 m(24.67 ft) |
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Thanks!
Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who’d like to know what’s crawling around town each morning 🕸️!
-Geoff Walsh - Publisher