Motorists are advised that snow removal and/or street widening operations are in effect tonight.

Beginning at 1:00 am and continuing until 7:00 am, Tuesday, February 1, 2005 snow will be removed or plowed on the following 9 streets.
1. Water Street ( from Waldegrave Street to Temperence Street)
2. McBride's Hill
3. George Street (Adelaide Street to Water Street)
4. Steer's Cove
5. Bishop's Cove
6. Beck's Cove
7. Ayre's Cove
8. Baird's Cove
9. St. John's Lane

All vehicles must be removed from the streets noted during this time period. Any vehicles impeding the operation will be removed and impounded at the owner's expense. The impounding fee is $109.25 plus $3.00 for each day the vehicle is held in storage.

Motorists are advised that snow removal and/or street widening operations are in effect tonight. Beginning at 1:00 am and continuing until 7:00 am, Thursday, January 27, 2005 snow will be removed or plowed on the following 6 streets.
1. NewGower Street (from Hamilton Avenue to Duckworth Street)
2. Duckworth Street
3. Bates Hill
4. Church Hill
5. Cathedral Street
6. Prescott Street
All vehicles must be removed from the streets noted during this time period. Any vehicles impeding the operation will be removed and impounded at the owner's expense. The impounding fee is $109.25 plus $3.00 for each day the vehicle is held in storage.

Motorists are advised that snow removal and/or street widening operations are in effect tonight. Beginning at 1:00 am and continuing until 7:00 am, Wednesday, January 26, 2005 snow will be removed or plowed on the following street.

1. Water Street (from Waldegrave Street to Temperance Street) Both Sides

All vehicles must be removed from the streets noted during this time period. Any vehicles impeding the operation will be removed and impounded at the owner's expense. The impounding fee is $109.25 plus $3.00 for each day the vehicle is held in storage.

A record 60.1 cms of snow fell in the downtown over the weekend closing businesses for the day. Just as clean up efforts were to begin another system moved through the area on Monday bringing more snow and heavy rain - over 40 mm blocking streets and sidewalks.

City crews could not keep ahead of the snow and heavy rain. Clearing efforts by the DDC and Kelloways Construcion was also brought to a stand still because of the large amounts of snow pushed on downtown sidewalks.

Scott Cluney, Executive Director with the DDC, explains "A snowstorm bringing 20cms of snow to the downtown makes it difficult to clear sidewalks in areas. When you have three times that amount in one storm it becomes nearly impossible without the help of City crews".

Kelloway's Construction had crews out in the downtown over the weekend as part of the Sidewalk Snow Clearing Assistance Program ran by the DDC but were unable to move the large amounts of snow with a small sidewalk plow.

"There are areas where a wall of snow, 8 to 10 feet in height are piled and there is no way a small sidewalk plow can handle those large volumes" Cluney says. "Even if we could move the snow from the sidewalk there is no where to push it right now. We are in the process of trying to organize a full removal with City crews for Water Street, Duckworth Street and other streets in the downtown for Tuesday and Wednesday nights. It's going to take a couple of days but we will have our sidewalks back before long". says Cluney.

The Sidewalk Snow Clearing Assistance Program was developed to assist downtown businesses and property owners within the BIA with the burden of keeping sidewalks clear of snow and ice during the winter season. It does not abolish business or property owners of their responsibility to remove snow and ice from their sidewalk. Its goal it to help ease the load and address areas where the sidewalk is bordered by vacant buildings and land.

For more information please call the DDC office at 579 4139.

The Downtown Development Commission (DDC) has one new member on its board for 2005.

Mary Andrews, owner and operator of Details and Designs at 151 Water Street were elected by acclamation on November 26, 2004 and was welcomed to the Board at its first monthly meeting on Thursday, January 13, 2005.

Re-elected by the DDC Board to the position of Chair is Mr. Bill Mahoney of Regal Realty. Anita Carroll of Posie Row has been re-elected as Vice Chair and Mr. Charles Cook of A.P. Parking Garage will return to his position of Treasurer. Phonse Miller of Gallery Shoes will sit as Past Chair.

Mahoney anticipates a busy year in 2005 for the DDC Board. “The task of continuously striving to fulfill our mandate is always our first priority” says Mahoney. “Making the downtown a better place to live, work, shop and visit while preserving and enhancing the downtown as the dominant commercial center of St. John’s.”

The Board is comprised of nine members in total. Ron Fougere of Ron Fougere & Associates, Neil Hardy of the Altus Group, David Hiscock of R. H. Trapnells and Jill Hiscock of Party Time Rentals.

Three Board members have one year left to their term. Anita Carroll of Posie Row, Jill Hiscock of Hiscock Rentals and Neil Hardy of the Altus Group.

NOIA has named the president of P.F. Collins Customs Brokers Limited the winner of its 2005 Outstanding Contribution Award. The award cites Bernard Collins as an offshore trade expert, who has championed the east coast industry in Canada and around the world. P.F. Collins Custom Brokers Limited are located at 162 Duckworth Street.

Collins is also honoured for working tirelessly to create an environment that maintains the local industry's competitiveness globally. The award will be presented during NOIA's general meeting and awards night on January 26th.

Excerpt from VOCM Radio, Wednesday, January 12, 2005.

Our Downtown community is being called upon to join forces and support a new
fundraising campaign, 'Hands of Hope', to aid the victims of the tsunami
disaster in South-East Asia. Lead by a group of local group of volunteers,
this campaign will feature several special fundraising activities. All
money raised will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross.

While the campaign culminates in a benefit concert and silent auction on
January 22, the 'Hands of Hope' is much more. Businesses, service clubs,
municipalities, hospitals, sports teams and many more will also be involved
in friendly challenges across the province- all driven to give.

The DDC's members have been asked to contribute to this fundraising effort.
Because we live in a coastal community and work in a Downtown core that hugs
the North Atlantic, this is a disaster to which we all can relate.

The DDC's plan to help the folks in South-Asia to get on with their lives is
two-fold. First, we are asking Downtown retailers to donate items to the
silent auction taking place at the Delta Hotel on January 22nd at 8:00 pm.
All those who donate items will be recognized for generosity.

Second, we are asking non-retail DDC members (lawyers, engineers, oil
companies, associations, and other office employees) to organize a
fundraising effort with their offices. All contributions (cash or in kind)
will be collected on January 21st and will presented to the "Hands of Hope"
as a Downtown contribution (listing those who participated).

To donate items to the silent auction or for ideas on how to coordinate your
own fundraiser, please contact the DDC office by responding to this email or
call 726-8244.

Thank-you for your support,

Gaylynne Lambert
Marketing and Special Events Coordinator
Downtown Development Commission

You'll Find It...Downtown!

A St. John’s retailer’s business is on hold as it mops up after flooding that occurred during the Christmas holidays. In an ironic twist of names, Attica – a chic furniture and housewares retailer – is actually located on the ground floor of 152 Water Street.

Dana Lambert said damage to the store was extensive. Somewhere between Christmas Eve and Dec. 27, a third-floor hot water boiler malfunctioned, causing water to flow constantly for what Lambert said was at least two days.

“The hoses, I guess, let go or exploded or something, because of the holidays and everything being closed, the pipes never got turned off until we came in on the 27th,” said Lambert, Attica’s manager. “By that time, there was water everywhere, just like it had rained in the store. We’ve got a good chunk of stuff gone.”

She said the water boiler serviced the building. When contacted by the Telegram, Cory Tucker of Reb Holdings Inc., the company that owns the building, acknowledged there were problems with the boiler, but refused further comment.

The water ran down through the lower levels of the building, which also houses Infotel, Reb offices and House of Gifts. The Cellar Restaurant, located on the fourth floor, was not damaged by the flooding.

Lambert said damage at Attica was in the range of hundreds of thousands of dollars. “In furniture, I’d say we’ve lost 10 per cent, and that’s probably being generous,” she said. “We had a full, 4000 square foot showroom and we’re pretty much wiped out. Small giftware never got touched with just the way the water was flowing. There were spots where there was a foot of water and other spots with more. We’re still digging out – a week later. The damage every day is accumulating – not realizing how much our loading room got flooded, which was filled with stock that had come in on Christmas Eve.”

Lambert said the water seeped into tile flooring and shorted out lighting systems. She said safety is a priority before the store can reopen. “We don’t want to open our doors until we know it’s 100 per cent safe to do so. We’ve got electricians working on the lighting and to make sure the pipes are safe and there’s no more water coming in from anywhere.”

The Christmas incident was the second time Attica experienced flooding in 2004. In September, Lambert said, vandals entered the building and overflowed the sinks in a second-floor public washroom. The water made its way to Attica’s stock room, ruining some merchandise, but Lambert said September’s flood does not compare to the damage done by December’s incident.

Stock is being inspected by Attica’s insurance company, and Lambert isn’t sure if any of it can be salvaged. “We’re insured because this was through no fault of our own and it was within the building,” she said. “We don’t have the full story from the owners of the building yet, just that it was a hot water boiler on the third floor.”

Attica is not considering legal action, Lambert said, because the incident was not a result of negligence. She said the process of removing water and replacing pipes could be lengthy. “We’re hoping by the end of this month to be open again, but that’s probably a stretch,” Lambert said. “It’s in the hands of other people now, so that’s kind of frustrating. We’re still finding our stuff and there’s stuff we haven’t gotten to yet. We’re trying to clear space because it all has to be repainted and cleaned. It like reopening the store from scratch.”

Bradley Bouzane, The Telegram, Wednesday, January 05, 2005

Council agreed to grant an Approval-in-Principle for the proposed renovation and extension of the R.A. Templeton Building at 339-345 Water Street. The proposed $7.5 million renovation and extension will see an additional floor added to the existing building on the Water Street level as well as the development of Class A office space on Harbour Drive/Bishops Cove area.

One of the conditions of the Approval-in-Principle states that the property owner and his architectural consultant meet again with the Heritage Advisory Committee to discuss potential modifications to the Harbour Drive facade to determine if the building can be designed to be more in keeping with the architectural heritage character of this area.

Upon completion of this review process, the Heritage Advisory Committee will refer its recommendation on the Harbour Drive facade for Council's consideration and decision.

For more information on this storey check out Banking on the Downtown. Local businessman plans $7.5 million office building, expansion of family company.
October 6, 2004.

The Arts Community, area businesses and other interested parties are advised that the building paper sheathing (Tyvek) installed on designated downtown utility poles for the purpose of placing advertising posters will be removed and replaced in 2005 on the following dates:
JANUARY 17th
MARCH 21st
MAY 16th
JUNE 20th
JULY 18th
AUGUST 15th
SEPTEMBER 19th
OCTOBER 17th
NOVEMBER 21st

You will note that the removal and replacement occurs on the 3rd Monday of each month (except February, April & December).

Advertisers should also note that the removal and replacement of the Tyvek may take more than one day and the schedule may be delayed by adverse weather conditions.

Help us eliminate litter by ensuring that your posters are securely attached and by using only the designated poles which have Tyvek attached to them.

If you require additional information, please contact the City at 754 CITY (2489).

The program is sponsored jointly by the Downtown Development Commission, Newfoundland Power and the City of St. John's.

Holiday Date of Observance

*New Year’s Day, Saturday, January 1, 2005
*Good Friday, Friday, March 25th, 2005
Easter Sunday, Sunday, March 27th, 2005
Victoria Day, Monday, May 23rd, 2005
*Memorial Day/Canada Day, Friday, July 1st, 2005
*Labour Day, Monday, September 5th, 2005
Thanksgiving Day, Monday, October 10th, 2005
*Remembrance Day, Friday, November 11th, 2005
*Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th, 2005
Boxing Day, Monday, December 26th, 2005

*Public Paid Holidays

In addition to the above holidays, the Shops Closing Act sets for observance as holidays in the City of St. John’s, the day determined as Regatta Day.

The Shops Closing Act requires that all shops, other than those defined as exempt shops, be closed on the above civic holidays.

For more information visit:
http://www.gov.nf.ca/lra/labourstandards/Shops_Closing_2005.htm