Charles E. Frees-Melvin's WebHome

This week I went to council to see the debate and decision on Peel Plaza/North of Union project. That particular topic is so revolting in so many ways that it needs not mention here.

But what is even more inexcusable is the state of the decorations in the Council chamber. I have attached a photo that demonstrates the three worst violations.

1. The Queen’s Photo

This item really bugged me most of the night it is not noticeable on TV or the web feed but the photos are crooked. In the chamber it was the Philip photo that looked wrong but upon review in PhotoShop it is actually the Queen’s photo that is eleven degrees clockwise crooked.

2. The New Brunswick Flag

This one is not as noticeable as the others but the flag is a good decimeter down the shaft from the top making it lower than the other flags.

3. The Acadian Banner/Flag

In this case you don’t even see it because it has no base and is leaning against the Canadian flag.

Bonus: Flag Order

The flags are positioned incorrectly. They are positioned left to right: Union Jack, New Brunswick, Canada, Acadian. By official precedence with 4 flags the Canadian flag should be on the left, followed by the flag of a sovereign state (Union Jack), Provincial Flag in order of confederation (NB), then historical flags (Acadian). Then an optional second Canadian flag could be on the right.

One of the major articles from the Telegraph-Journal this week that had caught my attention (Petition would oust Mayor) was the petition by Gerry Webster to recall the mayor. All I can say is where do I sign. No don’t say that I don’t agree with democracy, in fact I believe that petitioning to recall the Mayor is very democratic. I gives everyone the chance to vote on whether to keep the Mayor or pick someone better. Ivan Court in my opinion has not kept up the standard in the first year of his reign that this city needs, and is in fact going to be severely detrimental; as his and councils policies do nothing more than chase businesses out of the city.

On the other hand I see that Fredericton would be probably the most likely and willing to nail the tomb on Saint John. In a historical perspective the city of Fredericton was created because of all the morons and poor decisions of Saint Johners.

It would be very interesting to see who would come out of the woodwork that could beat Mayor Court. The fact that it only takes 15% of the electorate is a good number that that people will not pull the Mayor as that number mean the “do not rock the ship” people will need to convert to pull the mayor. Which I think people believe the Mayor needs to go if not because of what he done but because the Telegraph-Journal told them so. (Follow-up on the Mayor won’t quit) (Follow up article if it was legal)

$167,000. That number is the value of the pledges being made today at the 2008 Empty Stocking Fund. It was a whole lot of fun and a whole lot of work. It seemed as if at the beginning that it was going to be a nightmare, but the number of pure professionals that came together to pull it off was awe inspiring.

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Update: The show was cancelled due to the weather. Night-Rain-Fog-TV Cameras don’t mix well.

Believe it or not the Santa Claus Parade is one my my favourite shows to work on each year. I also like seeing whatg is new each year and really enjoy coming home later to actually watch it. As a bonus for my readers I have the float list for this year’s parade.

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I was walking through the market this weekend when I seen taking with elderly ladies talking with the clerk at Baleman’s in the Saint John City Market holding this article. It was nice to see the interest as I have been working with the authour on her website at http://www.ursj.ca.

Book revisits urban renewal era

Published Tuesday September 23rd, 2008
History City native’s book shows how the 1960s began a period of transformation
BRUCE BARTLETT
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

SAINT JOHN – Most schoolchildren learn something about how the Great Fire of 1877 changed the look of the city, but how many are aware of events closer in time that have had a far greater impact on the landscape of the city?

Soon, such information will be readily available, thanks to the efforts of Brenda Peters McDermott.

The Saint John native has put together a collection of photographs and documents showing just how much the urban renewal projects of the 1960s through the 1980s made the city what it is today.

Her book, Urban Renewal Saint John: A City Transformed, shows the tremendous impact the project had on the old east end, north end and city centre, culminating with the opening of Market Square in 1983.

An urban renewal study in 1956 discovered that out of 13,000 dwellings in the city, 4,000 needed to be immediately demolished and another 8,000 were in fair to poor condition, leaving only 1,000 that could be described as good, said McDermott. continue reading…