🐝 Tuesday's got an interesting buzz

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Good morning, Saint John! Today is World Chocolate Day, which means any chocolate you eat before noon is basically ceremonial. We're not making the rules...we're just choosing not to question them.

Here’s the lowdown for the day:

Let’s get into it!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

Maybe it's Chicken Parm. Maybe it's a mountain of pasta. Maybe you're just there because you know the Garlic Homeloaf is coming before anything else.

Whatever brings you back, there's a good chance it's been way too long. So next time somebody asks what's for supper, make it easy. East Side Mario's is proudly locally owned and operated, serving up all your Italian favourites, generous portions and enough Garlic Homeloaf to make everyone at the table happy.

⛳ Saint John golfer gets his shot

For a lot of golfers, playing a round with your dad is special. Saint John's Nick Ritchie gets to do it on a professional tour stop.

The reigning New Brunswick amateur champion has earned a spot in this week's Explore NB Open at Mactaquac, the province's stop on the PGA Tour Americas. Better yet, his dad, Darren Ritchie, will be on the bag as his caddy. That's a pretty good pairing considering Darren is a two-time provincial amateur champion and the 1992 Canadian amateur champ.

The tournament runs Thursday through Sunday and features more than 150 pros from around the world, giving Nick a chance to see how his game stacks up against players chasing the PGA Tour. 

📞 Don't fall for this call

Just when you thought scammers couldn't get any bolder...they're now pretending to be the people who fight scams.

The Financial and Consumer Services Commission is warning New Brunswickers that fraudsters are increasingly impersonating the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, claiming they're investigating suspicious activity on your bank account or can help recover money you've already lost. The catch? They'll ask you to transfer money, share banking details or pay "fees" to help with the investigation.

Here's the easy rule to remember. The real Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre will never ask you to send money, give them passwords or verification codes, or move cash to a "safe" account. If you get a call like that, hang up and contact your bank using the number on the back of your card.

🐝 One rude little bumble bee

Imagine kicking someone out of their house, moving in, then getting them to raise your kids. That's basically how the endangered Bohemian Cuckoo Bumble Bee survives.

A new provincial recovery strategy highlights the unusual native species, which takes over Yellow-banded Bumble Bee nests by displacing the queen and letting the colony's workers raise its young. Scientists say both species have declined sharply over the past few decades, although the Yellow-banded Bumble Bee has started to rebound after nearly disappearing in the early 2000s. The province is now looking at ways to help native pollinators recover, including creating more bee-friendly habitat and rethinking how roadside areas are managed.

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🎭 Theatre Talk Tuesday

🧳Fringe needs a few good hosts

Fundy Fringe Festival is just six weeks away, and one of the biggest ways you can help doesn't require stepping on stage. Organizers are looking for Saint Johners willing to open their homes to visiting performers. Artists travel from across Canada and around the world to take part in the annual festival, and many rely on local billet hosts during their stay. If you've got a spare room and don't mind playing host for a few days, it's a unique way to support the arts and get a behind-the-scenes connection to one of the city's biggest theatre events.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses | July 7
Saint John Theatre Company opens Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the BMO Studio Theatre. The sharp, scandal-filled classic follows games of power, seduction and revenge among the French aristocracy, which is to say: messy people, fancy clothes and consequences.

Lorne Elliott | July 11
Canadian comedy legend Lorne Elliott brings his one-man show to the BMO Studio Theatre with dry humour, offbeat storytelling and a bit of musical mischief. Tickets are $40 regular or $35 for subscribers.

A Midsummer Night's Dream | July 15-18 & July 22-25
Loyalist City Shakespeare returns to Place Fort La Tour with one of the Bard's most beloved comedies. Set against the Saint John harbour, this open-air production transforms the historic fort into an enchanted forest filled with tangled romances, mischievous fairies and plenty of laughs. Performances begin nightly at 7:30pm, with tickets starting at $30.

📍Discover tons more upcoming events across the Saint John Region.

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📸 Sky Pinto | 📍 St. Martins

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🌅 5:44am | 🌇 9:13pm

Today’s Tides 🌊

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Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who doesn't believe in sharing chocolate 🍫.

-Geoff Walsh - Publisher