🧶 Knit Happens

Good morning, Saint John! Quick reminder that the clocks go ahead one hour before bed tomorrow night. Then enjoy the coffee on Sunday - because while you lose an hour of sleep, you gain a week of caffeine-fueled confusion. ⏰

Here’s what we’re thinking about this weekend:

• City announces transit, tree and southern peninsula upgrades 🚋🌳

• Knit a damn hat 🧶

• Can’t miss event notices! 📅

Happy Friday!

-Geoff Walsh, Publisher

SPONSORED
Your Voice Matters! 📢

Share your story with our readers and let them know what makes you unique. Advertise with us for morning visibility!

NEWS NOTES

🚧 Big Upgrades Coming to the Southern Peninsula

The City of Saint John is rolling out major upgrades to the southern peninsula this year. Broad Street, St. James Street, Carmarthen Street, and Charlotte Street will all see improvements, including the replacement of aging water and sewer systems, road reconstruction, and new active transportation features.

On Broad Street, work will start in April, with new sidewalks, curbs, bike lanes, and trees, plus the extension of Harbour Passage. Similar upgrades will take place on St. James and Carmarthen Streets, with new storm sewers and road improvements throughout the area.

These projects, funded in part by the Integrated Bilateral Funding Program, are set to wrap up by late 2025. Expect traffic disruptions, street closures, and detours during construction season.

Public info sessions will be held at Trinity Anglican Church, 115 Charlotte Street, on March 11th from 3:30-7:30pm and March 13th from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. .

🌳 Federal Dollars Announced for Trees and Transit

Some major upgrades could be in the schedule for Saint John Transit! Thanks to over $7 million in federal funding, the city is set to see some big changes. First up, $6.3 million will go towards upgrading, replacing, and maintaining buses and infrastructure over the next decade - let's hope that means  more reliable rides coming our way!

But that’s not all…$774,000 will go into planting 1,100 trees (seems pricy) across the city with the goal of improving the city’s natural infrastructure.

⚾ Swing for the Fences

It’s hard to express just how much joy it brings to say that baseball season is warming up…and the Saint John Alpines are looking for new talent. Open tryouts for both the senior AJ’s Alpines and junior Doiron Sports Alpines kick off March 31 at the Irving Oil Field House from 7-9pm with no pre-registration needed. More sessions follow on April 7 (7-9pm), April 13 (2-4pm), and May 1 (7-9pm). If you’ve got the skills, they want to see you on the field!

🏆 Top Clicks of the Week

Between tariffs and crazy weather, it’s been a bit of a week…Here’s what had you clicking away the last few days. 

Monday: Public notice about possible development on Bayside Drive
Tuesday: Spring Tide Shantyfest is in two weeks!
Wednesday: Guide to products made in Canada
Thursday: Mayor Donna Reardon’s appearance on the Daily Show

^{_{*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.}}

LOCAL BUSINESS

🍁 Show Your Pride - Knit a Hat!

If you’ve walked by Good Fibrations on Germain Street this week, you may have noticed a collection of cozy toques proudly displayed in the window. Liz Miller and the crew are spreading some national pride with their Live by the Leaf toque project, and they’re inviting you to get in on the action! They’re offering a free, simple, and heartwarming pattern that’s been a favorite of theirs for over a decade. The toque is all about Canadian love—crafted with care, made for charity, gifts, or just for you!

The pattern is available in both English and French (bonus points for bilingual crafting!), and you can find it on their website. Just a heads-up, Liz asks that you don’t sell any finished hats - this is a gift to spread kindness and community spirit. Knit for fun, knit for others, and most importantly, knit with pride! And don’t forget to share your finished creations with them (and us!) on social!

SPONSORED
Stand Out in the Crowd! 🌟

Reach local families and make an impression. Grab your spot in our newsletter today!

EVENTS
What’s Happenin’

Sure, it’s only early March, but summer plans fill up fast. To save you from last-minute FOMO, here are a few events we’re locking in now! 📅

Port City Beer Run | May 31
Beer Drinker Math: We’ve got 12 weeks until Saint John’s biggest beer-fueled run. That means if we add 1K to our training each week, we’ll be MORE than ready for the 10K - and if we enjoy a couple of beers per week, we’ll be fully prepared for the brew fest at the finish line. 🍺+🏃=✅

Celebrating 10 years, the Port City Beer Run is back and bigger than ever! Runners, walkers, and beer enthusiasts alike will kick things off at Moosehead Breweries before cruising along Harbour Passage and finishing at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal. Waiting at the finish line? An epic brew fest featuring 20+ local producers serving up craft beer, cider, wine, and spirits - because hydration is important.

Not a runner? Neither are we, but we’ll be there! Fan Tickets get you straight to the beer fest without the sweat. Plus, proceeds support TopCorner Hockey SJ, helping kids lace up their skates for free.

Lace up, sign up, or just show up for the beer. Either way, register now!

🚀 AREA 506 Lineup Drops Next Week | August 1-3
Saint John’s biggest summer festival is turning 10! And they’re kicking off the party with a lineup reveal marathon on March 13. Starting at 9 AM, they’ll announce two bands every hour until 5 PM, when tickets go live. Expect a day of frantic refreshing, questionable work productivity, and plenty of hype for the New Brunswick Day long weekend. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, relive all your AREA 506 memories with their 10-year playlist on Spotify. 🎶

Got an Event to Share?

^{_{*Nothing in this section is sponsored, just things you need to know. We’ll always let you know if items are sponsored.}}

LOCAL PICS
WHERE WERE WE WEDNESDAY? 📸

📍 On Wednesday, we were working at one of our favourite spots in town, until we realized we needed a pic for this bit. As usual, it was something quirky in a bathroom that saved the day! This gem hangs in one of the bathrooms at Picaroons General Store, uptown. Shout out to subscribers Wes Moore & Ross Galbraith for correctly identifying it! Check in next week to see if you know where we are.

Tag @sjtoday.ca to get your photos featured!

SIDE NOTES

Today’s Tides 🌊 

Get Noticed in SJ Today!

Got something to share? Our baseline ads are made for moments just like this. With your message nestled in among the latest Saint John updates, it’s a quick and easy way to get seen by local readers. Let’s help you make an impression!*

^{_{*indicates sponsored content}}

Thanks!

Thanks for reading SJ Today - If you found it useful, share it with someone who’s up at the crack of dawn - even on the weekend! 🌞

-Geoff Walsh - Publisher

Did I Miss Something?