By Vicki Hogarth and Nathalie Sturgeon, CHCO-TV NewsBreak26, St. Andrews, New Brunswick

The Herring Pub Hopes to Re-Open Soon After Weekend Fire

A beloved Saint Andrews pub and restaurant was damaged in a fire on Saturday. The Herring Pub on Water Street near Market Square saw fire rip through the back area of the building. Fire departments from St. Andrews, St. Stephen and Eastern Charlotte were on scene and contained the fire within 20 minutes. 

The beloved pub and restaurant is an institution in the community, in part because the restaurant is one of the few in the town that stays open throughout the year and in part because owner Kevin Simmonds is a huge part of the fabric of local life in St. Andrews. He not only helps spearhead the annual donations drive for the local food bank through the lobster trap Christmas tree, he is also the first to raise his hand to help out with important community causes.

The community looks forward to showing their appreciation for both The Herring and Kevin Simmonds when the pub reopens later this month.

St. Andrews Fire Department Needs More Volunteer Fire Fighters

The St. Andrews Fire Department is seeking new volunteer members. 

Fire Chief Kevin Theriault said the first year of service can be very demanding on a volunteer firefighter, but finding and keeping new members is a widespread issue for different fire departments. 

“We do have five or six open slots on the station, said Theriault. “So, we're just trying to bring our numbers back up to where we're full, and hopefully we get enough people to do that.”

The first year of being a volunteer firefighter carries the heaviest commitment. 

“There's about 200 hours in training, the first year with firefighter level one, first aid, WHIMS, things like that,” he said. “After that, it's a few courses here and there or responding to calls. The first year is a big year.” 

He said the other component is most volunteer firefighters have full-time jobs, which Theriault said creates slower response times during the day. 

“There's a lot of commitments. They just can't take off,” he said during an interview. “Our response is the worst right now. You're seeing that clear across the fire service and volunteer fire service. Recruitment and retention is one of the biggest issues facing fire fighting right now.”

Many rural communities and municipalities rely on the volunteer fire service – with mutual aid agreements between different departments to bolster resources when needed. 

A recent information session resulted in two applications, Theriault said. 

“Hopefully this week we'll be able to interview those two and move on to the next steps with bringing them on,” he said. 

Theriault is hopeful a recent agreement to increase the stipend for the firefighter service will help bring more people onto the team. 

The municipal council agreed at a recent budget meeting to increase the stipend from $13,000 a year to $20,000. Theriault explained that money is provided to firefighters for every hour they are on the call, and they receive a bit of compensation.

“It helps cover the cost of their gas to respond or clothes that get ruined throughout the year,” he said, adding he hopes that crosses the finish line on the final budget. “It's a big step in helping retain firefighters. The more we can get back to the volunteer firefighters, the better it is. That’s a huge commitment.” 

The department is also preparing for the arrival of its new ladder truck, which will provide the department with a significant advantage in many types of fires. 

New Shelter Opening in St. Stephen

Neighbourhood Works will run a community hub for unhoused people beginning in December in St. Stephen. The hub will offer sleeping accommodations, meals, outreach support, harm reduction supplies, showers and laundry facilities located at 9 Main St.

After April, the space will serve as a long-term shelter. An estimated 70 to 100 people are homeless in the St. Stephen area. Anyone wishing to get involved in the initiative can email thelodge@neighbourhoodworks.org

The Algonquin Has a New Lobby Dog

There is a new dog in town – at the Algonquin Resort anyway. 

Her name is Leia and she’s the newest addition to the staff – known as a lobby dog – who came from the Institute for the Blind. The tradition dates back decades. 

“Sydney, who was our previous dog that sadly passed away a little while ago, was here for eight years,” said Algonquin Manager Steven Dodwell. “Previous to that we had a Smudge, a Piper, a Bentley .. but it’s many, back (in) the last century.” 

Sydney, a black lab mix, died in September and her loss was palpable to the staff – especially the resort’s account manager. 

“So, obviously Sydney and she had lived together, she’d been a staple in the hotel for 8 years, and she was just old – it happens to the best of us and it was terribly sad,” Dodwell said. 

A lobby dog greets guests, who ultimately pay in back scratches and belly rubs, but Leia provides a new sense of calm – but also companionship. 

The Algonquin Resort is pet friendly and welcomes a lot of families and children, having a dog in the lobby may provide them with a bit of the comforts of home. 

“It’s just all about friendship and warmth and people checking into hotels, they’re strangers, (they) don’t know anybody,” he said. “Maybe humans are not always as nice as they should be but a dog you can never go wrong with.”