Almost 2,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arrive in New Brunswick this week, and the first group of eligible New Brunswickers will receive the first shot of the two dose vaccine this Saturday in Miramichi. The total number of doses which have arrived is 1,950. Dr. Hanif Chatur, an emergency room physician at the Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville, received an email on Friday identifying him as a member of the priority group eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination this weekend.

"I received an email saying I was eligible, and I immediately replied with an enthusiastic 'yes'," said Dr. Chatur.

In order to raise awareness for the importance of getting vaccinated, Dr. Chatur started a social media campaign, #GotMyShot. Dr. Charut and others are already using the hashtag to demystify the vaccination experience for other Canadians.

The St. Andrews RCMP is scaling back the search for Wilma Montgomery, a missing 68-year-old woman from the community. The search is now considered to be a recovery effort. In a press release on Tuesday, Sergeant Christopher Henderson said:

"Based on information gathered by police, we believe there is a strong likelihood that she went into the water".

The investigation is still considered ongoing. 

The province is once again collaborating with East Coast Ferries to further subsidize the seasonal ferry from Deer Island to Campobello, now until January 10th, weather permitting. 

"I was thrilled to hear that the seasonal ferry had been extended," said MLA for Saint Croix Kathy Bockus.

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Saint Andrews met at the Wesley United Church on Tuesday to put together Christmas baskets to give to seniors in the community. The holiday baskets are a tradition of the Kiwanis Club adapted this year for COVID-19.

"We are no longer paying a visit to people's homes; instead, we are calling ahead and leaving the baskets outside," said Lee Sochasky of the Kiwanis Club of Saint Andrews. 

Volunteers from the local food bank, the Open Door Program, were also at the United Church this week preparing holiday baskets for clients as well as matching gifts from a local toy drive to children in need in the community.

Finally, the annual Gingerbread Dream House in Saint Andrews sponsored by the Leather House took place over the weekend. 

"We adapted the contest this year so that people could see the gingerbread homes from the sidewalk in the store windows," said Katy MacDonald of the Leather House.

One of the crowd favourites was the winner of the adult category: a "Together Apart" village made by Caleigh Dunfield and Chris Langille. The entry features handwritten letters of inspiration written by people from the community to each other, reminding us that we are truly all in this together. The entry is still on display in the window of St. Croix Olive at the Treadwell Inn.