Mesheau on taxes, budgets and local news

We’ve got a conversation with Sackville Mayor Shawn Mesheau touching on the town budget, which is up for consideration in the coming weeks, and recent meetings the mayor has had with provincial ministers and the heads of Brunswick News, Jamie Irving and Mike Power. Plus CHMA asks for the mayor's thoughts on the call for an investigation into the province’s role in the outbreak at the Drew Nursing Home.

Wool2Wishes goes online

Wool 2 Wishes, the Port Elgin social enterprises that produces wool and fleece mittens using re-purposed woollens, is taking their unique mitten design online. The operation has started selling mittens at wool2wishes.com to expand their reach.

In addition to providing flexible local work, Wool2Wishes helps fund some of the programming at PEDVAC, the Port Elgin Voluntary Action Committee. PEDVAC operates a community food bank, hot lunches for students, an annual Christmas box campaign, and literacy programs.

CHMA talks with program coordinator Darcie Kingswell to find out more. Read our web story here.

COVID-19 update: three more dead, active cases drop

Another three people have passed away from COVID-19 in the province. A person in their eighties in the Campbellton region, a person in their 90s in the Edmundston region, and another person in their 90s in Zone 1, have all died from the disease.

The active case count in the province continues to drop as recoveries outpace new cases. As of Tuesday there are 774 active cases. But numbers of people in hospital and ICU remain high… 57 people are in hospital, with 18 of those in an ICU.

Zone 1 remains the most active zone in the province, with 22 new cases reported yesterday, all of which are under investigation by public health. There are 290 active cases of COVID-19 in Zone 1.

Boosters to become available for health care workers

Provincial public health has announced that booster shots will be available to health care workers and residents of First Nations communities as of Monday. Those who have been fully vaccinated for at least 6 months will qualify for a shot of an mRNA vaccine such as Moderna or Pfizer.

The province previously announced that residents of long term care homes would be eligible for third dose booster shots, but residents of the Drew Nursing Home in Sacvkille still await scheduling of their combined flu and COVID-19 boosters as of Monday.

The province says it will release details on booster doses for other groups in the coming weeks.

Sports subsidy applications available

The town of Sackville has published information and application forms for a new youth sports subsidy program to help cover up to 50% of the cost of registration with Sackville Minor Hockey, Tantramar Lacrosse, the Sackville Skating Club, and the Sackville Swim Club. Families can be reimbursed up to $300 per child for program fees starting on July 1 this year. Check sackville.com for more information. Read more coverage of the subsidy program here and here.