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Looking for information Spartans football Rotary run New park unveiled pg. 2 pg. 6 pg. 7 pg. 16 To advertise in this space contact: Erica MacQuarrie 173707 466•3220 (Ext: 1305) Email: [email protected] Tuesday, September 24, 2019 Volume 153, Issue 39 stcroixcourier.ca www.stcroixcourier.ca St. Stephen man without power for months - says bill continued to rise after disconnection power has been shut-off for nearly four Andrew Sutton months now. He said he got the notice ST. STEPHEN his power would be shut-off about 20 minutes after the NB Power worker left. At the beginning of the year, Shane That day, he went to work, and on his VanTassel’s wife left him. break called the utility. “That put me behind on my bills,” he They told him he owed $1749, and in said. “There used to be two incomes, order to get his power turned back on but now it’s down to one.” he would have to clear that debt. VanTassel lives in St. Stephen, in a “I said that with 1700 bucks, I can go house he has been renting to own for buy a $500 generator and I’ll be fi ne for the last six years. “In four more years the summer.” The NB Power represen- it’ll be mine.” tative told him to go right ahead and do He’s sitting on his living room couch, that. illuminated only by the sunlight com- “So I did,” he says. “But unfortu- ing in through the transparent cur- nately, that takes gas to run, which eats- tains. Sitting there, you can hear the up quite a bit of my money.” faint hum of the generator running be- In the calculus of the moment, this hind the house - providing power to his arrangement seemed to make sense. fridge and washing machine. VanTassel owed $1750 to NB Power, but “I run it for around four to six hours a he could run his generator for the sum- day,” he tells me. mer which would give him some time VanTassel works two jobs in St. Ste- to deal with that bill before the winter phen, amounting to around 55 hours came around and he needed heating. a week. He’s 38-years-old, and prides But his bill kept going up. VanTassel himself on his independence. “I don’t believes his equalized billing payments use that much electricity,” he said. “My have been added to his debt, despite his lights aren’t on in the daytime, because power being shut-off. Those payments there’s a giant fi reball in the sky that were around $300 a month, and his over- does that for me.” due bill is now around $3000. When he fi rst started getting behind NB Power’s no-disconnect policy runs Andrew Sutton/Courier on his power bill, VanTassel says he from November 1 to March 31, but for Shane VanTassel’s home in St. Stephen has been without power for nearly four months. NB Power is refusing to called NB Power to make a payment ar- those who are working and are still un- turn on his electricity unless he is able to come up with $2500. rangement. He told them that he could able to keep up with high energy bills, give them $200 every two weeks when there is little recourse if your power he can come up with $2500 - the amount he was paid. has been disconnected in the summer he would owe after the $550 from the According to VanTassel, NB Power months. NB Power is not required to heating supplement was applied. agreed to this arrangement. “I was still hook customers back up when the cold Without power, VanTassel will have a $1.33 +TAX behind,” he said, “but I was making the months come around. hard winter. His generator isn’t capable payments.” At his wits end, VanTassel went to of running a heater, and without heat “I didn’t think much of it,” he added, Social Development to see if they could the pipes in his house will freeze and “Until I came home from work at lunch help. After a week of talking with NB burst. Soon he will have to shut off the to change for my afternoon job and the Power, the utility remains infl exible. water main to avoid this - leaving him NB Power fella was in my yard. Then “I managed to pre-qualify for the home without heat or water during the cold- everything went dark.” heating supplement,” he said, but NB est months of the year. This happened on June 3. VanTassel’s Power still won’t reconnect him unless [email protected] Call or go online Only Become a Subscriber to subscribe today! $ 52 The 57 Saint Croix Courier Per year In Print, Online & Mobile Reg. Subscription+Tax Subscribe or Advertise: 506.466.3220 www.stcroixcourier.ca 173708 2 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 NEWS RCMP seeking Kids paint & sip Orange t-shirt day ST. GEORGE SAINT ANDREWS information about The Knack Shack is hosting an outdoor rock paint- Every September 30 is Orange Shirt Day at the ing party for kids. Paint, rocks, and beverages will be NBCC St. Andrews campus, in remembrance of provided, but participants are asked to bring their residential school survivors. Students, teachers, own paint brushes (also welcome to bring own rocks and staff are asked to wear an orange t-shirt as part break and enter and paints). This event is taking place on Saturday, of the legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential September 28 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. the Day Adven- school commemoration, held in Williams Lake in ture Centre in St. George. the spring of 2013. This date was chosen because children are back in school and teachers will have into church time to plan course material around the anti-rac- ist and anti-bullying themes, and set the stage for ST. GEORGE school policies surrounding these themes. Orange Members of the St. George RCMP are investigat- Shirt Day is also a chance for First Nations, local ing an incident of mischief following a break and governments, schools, and community agencies enter into a church. Waste pickup to come together in the spirit of reconciliation to Sometime between the evening of Saturday, Sep- build hope for future generations. tember 21 and the morning of Sunday, September SAINT ANDREWS 22, 2019, someone broke into the Church of Christ The Public Works Staff in Saint Andrews will begin on Carleton Street. Several windows were broken daily curbside pickup for fall yard waste and leaves and a number of items were moved around inside beginning on Monday, September 24. Branches must the church during the incident. be in two foot by three foot bundles, and not exceed This is the fourth time in three years that the 50 pounds. Loose brush and tree branches may be Book reading and church has been broken into or sustained property brought to the designated chipping area in the Town damage. The New Brunswick RCMP’s Forensic Iden- Public Works Yard Monday through Friday between tification Services is assisting in the investigation. the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. All material must be discussion Police are asking anyone with information, who free of rope, wire, etc. Leaf bags will be available at may have surveillance video equipment in the area, the Town Office at a cost of $3 per bundle of 10. This or who may have seen suspicious activity around service will come to an end on Friday, November 9, CAMPOBELLO the church to contact the St. George RCMP at 506- and is not available to large scale or commercial con- The Campobello Public Library and Museum is 755-1130. Information can also be provided anony- tractors. hosting an evening with author Jane Merrill as she mously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS reads from her book, “The Showgirl Costume: An (8477) or www.crimenb.ca Illustrated History”, which discusses the history of risqué couture from France to Las Vegas. If you have a copy of the book, please bring it along to have it signed by the author. This event is taking place on Tuesday, September 24 from 7:30 p.m. until Autumn ball 8:30 p.m. After school LUBEC, MAINE The LAMPS Autumn Ball is being held on Saturday, October 12 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the Downeast Dragonfly Bar & Grill, LLC, located at 882 County Road chess club in Lubec, Maine. This event is sponsored by the Lubec Obedience classes Area Musicians Philanthropic Society (LAMPS) and ST. STEPHEN admission is by donation to benefit Downeast food OAK BAY The After-School Chess Club for students ages banks and fuel funds. If you have a dog four months old or older, you eight to 14 meets every Tuesday from 3 p.m. until 5 can take part in the beginner obedience class be- p.m. at the St. Croix Public Library in St. Stephen. ing held by the Charlotte County Kennel Club. In- Pre-registration is requested, and you can do so by structor Jessica Grant is Fenzi Dog Sports Acad- calling 466-7529 or email [email protected] emy Obedience certified, and a board member of the Charlotte County Kennel Club. She will be sup- Fall and winter ported by Rhonda Hulan, Charlotte County Search and Rescue K-9 handler. For more information, or to register, please call 506-366-8206, or email Jessica recreation at [email protected] or the Kennel Club at char- [email protected].

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