Firefighters in St. John's were battling a blaze Thursday morning at a strip club in downtown St. John's. Crews were on George Street, fighting a fire at the Cotton Club strip club.

The fire department said the fire caused considerable damage to the building, a stone structure that generations ago was a church and school. It was renovated as the former Cornerstone nightclub more than 25 years ago.

The St. John's Fire Department responded to a call at 5:48 a.m.

By 7:30, the fire department said the fire was under control, although smoke was still seeping from the roof.

Firefighters said no one was in the building at the time of the blaze.

CBC Radio Thursday, August 31, 2006

The folks at Kittiwake Dance Theatre are gearing up to host a fashion show, the only one scheduled in the City for this fall season! Kittiwake hopes to make this fundraising event a big deal for 'Downtown only' retailers.

It all happens at Club One on George Street, Tuesday, October 3. Hosted by Carolyn Stokes of NTV, the show will also feature DJ Pat Dunn, a special performance by Mark Bragg, and a guest appearance by the boys from George Street TV. A live auction is also scheduled, with a trip to the fabulous Humber Valley Resort up for grabs.

For ticket information or to feature clothing, accessories, and decorative items from your Downtown Store, please contact Brad Burness at 739-9443.

this is a test. Crowded parking conditions in downtown St. John's could be alleviated if businesses were tougher with their employees, Mayor Andy Wells says.

Construction of a new sewer processing system has temporarily wiped out parking spaces along Harbour Drive, adding to a perennial parking squeeze.

Bill Mahoney, who chairs the St. John's Downtown Development Commission, said too many parking meters are being misused.

Many employees who work downtown, he said, are parking on the street during the workday and using many of the 800 meters in the area, rather than using long-term parking farther away.

"We're a little bit spoiled because we expect to be able to park right outside the business, and you can't do that in any downtown in North America," Mahoney said.

"What we're seeing is the effects of a very vibrant economy, and it's a very busy downtown."

Wells said if that is the problem, then it's time for the business owners to get that message across to workers.

"Business operators downtown should get after their employees," Wells said.

"If it's employees parking on the meters, it's probably detrimental to the business itself, because they're probably taking up spaces that could be used by shoppers," Wells said.

The DDC said the public needs to learn the consequences of misusing parking spaces. The agency is working with city hall and Metrobus to find some answers, such as shuttle bus service for downtown workers.

CBC Radio Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Please be advised that the City of St. John's are ahead of schedule with the Harbour Interceptor Sewer (HIS) Project. The initial plan was to begin Phase II, the section of Harbour Drive between Precott Street and Baird's Cove, in early October. The City has now advised us that this section of the project will now begin on Monday, August 14.

The closure of the westbound lane on Harbour Drive will be extended to the Prescott Street/Water Street intersection. Harbour Drive will be one way eastbound from Beck's Cove to Prescott Street/Water Street.

Vehicles needing to access the Harbour Drive parking lots must do so from the east and will have to follow Water Street to Baird's Cove to access Harbour Drive. All vehicles exiting parking lots must TURN LEFT and proceed east on Harbour Drive.

If you have any further questions or concerns please contact Mark Stuckless, Traffic Project Engineer for the City of St. John's at 576 6182.

On September 4, 2006 (Labour Day) the cruise ship Amsterdam will be in our port. The ship will be arriving in St. John’s at 8:00 am and departing at 7:00 pm and it has the following itinerary: Copenhagen, Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen, Torshavn, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Reykjavik, Qaqortog, St. Anthony, St. John’s, New York. The ship will be carrying 1300 passengers and 700 crew.

Labour Day is a shops closing holiday as outlined in the Shops Closing Act. There are, however, exempt shops that are allowed to open (see below):
(a) art galleries;
(b) automatic laundries;
(c) neighbourhood convenience stores;
(d) bookshops;
(e) newsstands;
(f) motor vehicle service stations;
(g) vehicle rental outlets;
(h) restaurants and food take-outs;
(i) video rental outlets;
(j) drug stores;
(k) shops where the primary and most substantial business relates to the sale of fresh fruit, flowers, vegetables, plants or gardening supplies;

(l) shops where the primary and most substantial business relates to souvenirs or to crafts;

(m) music shops where the primary and most substantial business relates to the sale of recorded music such as records, compact disks and taped music; and

(n) gift stores in hospitals or in an institution or facility which is under the management and control of a hospital board.

If you are unsure if you are permitted to open on September 4, please call the Labour Standards office at 729-2742 or 729-2743. There are fines for defying the act, so you will want to confirm that you are eligible to be open. In addition, employees who work on this day are entitled a double-time rate of pay.

If you do intend to open on this day, please contact the DDC office (726-8244) by August 28, 2006. We are compiling a list shops, restaurants, and bars that will be open and it will be forwarded on to the Amsterdam’s passengers.

Today is the third and final day of the Aliant Downtown Busker Festival! Catch the buskers performing at Harbourside Park, Fortis Building, Scotia Centre, and the Murray Premises all day from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm. See Events page for the full schedule.

After a wet afternoon the weather has cleared and the show will go on! Shows start at 6:00 pm and run unitl 9:00 pm this evening.

The following is a revised schedule for this evening:

6:00 pm Kickstart at Scotia Center

6:30 pm Blastoff at Murray Premises

7:00 pm Michael James at Scotia Center

7:30 pm Ug at Murray Premises

8:00 pm Becky Priebe at Scotia Center
8:30 pm Michael James at Murray Premises

9:00 pm Mason Dangers at Scotia Center

For more information call 726 8244.

Due to the heavy drizzle and the concern for the safety of our buskers, the 3rd Annual Aliant Downtown Busker Festival will delay its start today and pick the schedule up at 6:00 pm.

For more information please call 726 8244. Stay tuned to VOCM, Hits 99.1 and K-Rock for updates.

6:00 pm Becky Priebe at Murray Premises

6:30 pm Kickstart at Scotia Center & Ug at Fortis deck

7:00 pm Becky at Harbourside Park & Blastoffs at Murray Premises & Matt Sharpe at Fortis deck

7:30 pm Michael James at Harbourside Park

8:00 pm Ug at Murray Premises & Matt Sharpe at Fortis deck

8:30 pm Mason Dangers at Scotia Center

*Catch the Wandering Brush at various sites throughout the festival.

Sunday, August 6th:

1:00 pm Kickstart at Harbourside Park & Blastoffs at Scotia Center

1:30 pm Mason Dangers at Fortis deck & Matt Sharpe at Murray Premises

2:00 pm Ug at Harbourside Park & Michael James at Murray Premises & Kid's Players at Fortis deck

2:30 pm Cory Tabino at Scotia Center & Blastoffs at Murray Premises

3:00 pm Mason Dangers at Harbourside Park & Kickstart at Fortis deck & Kid's Players at Murray Premises

3:30 pm Blastoffs at Scotia Center & Becky Priebe at Murray Premises

4:00 pm Michael James at Harbourside Park & Ug at Fortis deck & Kid's Players at Murray Premises

4:30 pm Cory Tabino at Murray Premises & Matt Sharpe at Fortis deck

5:00 pm Becky Priebe at Scotia Center & Blastoffs at Fortis deck & Mason Dangers at Murray Premises

5:30 pm Kickstart at Harbourside Park & Matt Sharpe at Murray Premises

6:00 pm Cory Tabino at Harbourside Park & Michael James at Fortis deck

6:30 pm Ug at Scotia Center & Michael James at Fortis deck

7:00 pm Becky Priebe at Harbourside Park & Blastoffs at Murray Premises & Matt Sharpe at Fortis deck

7:30 pm Michael James at Scotia Center

8:00 pm Ug at Murray Premises & Matt Sharpe at Fortis deck.

8:30 pm Mason Dangers at Scotia Center

* Catch the Wandering Brush at various sites throughout the festival.

Brought to you by:
Downtown Development Commission

Sponsored by:
Aliant
Destination St. John's
St. John's Time
Respiratory Therapy Specialists

Supported by:
Steele Communications
The Express

The 3rd Annual Aliant Downtown Busker Festival starts today at noon and runs until 9:00 pm tonight. The festival takes place throughout downtown today until Sunday, August 6 at the Murray Premises Courtyard, the Scotia Center Plaza, the Fortis Building Promenade and Harbourside Park. Over 30 shows per day with a show every 30 minutes. For more information and a complete event schedule visit the events page or call 726 8244.

Brought to you by the Downtown Development Commission.
Sponsored by Aliant, the City of St. John's, Destination St. John's and Respiratory Therapy Specialists Inc.
Supported by The Express, The Telegram and Steele Communications.