Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

City's newest used car dealership

Enlarge Photo

By Erin Dwyer

Passion for Porsches leads to City’s newest used-car dealership Mike Hachey’s passion for Porsche began with his Volkwagen Beetle he got after graduating from high school.

“It all blossomed from there,” he said.

Designed by Austro- Hungarian engineer Ferdinand Porsche, the Beetle was a vehicle for the people. But Porsche – whose line includes the 911, the Boxster and the 356 – is now considered one of the most respected automotive manufacturers in the world.

Now Hachey, a certified financial planner, has given up his career at the financial institutions to pursue his love. Hachey has opened California Custom Auto, a used-car dealership specializing in the Porsche line of vehicles and other highend specialty cars.

It also plans to sell at its showroom, at 541 Rothesay Ave., replicas of some of these high-end sports cars, imported from the United States and made at a fraction of the cost of the real thing.

The grand opening is slated for later this month.

Hachey said his business will focus on the New England states and the Atlantic provinces, selling these high-end cars to people who are passionate about them like him.

“There’s no reason to drive a Miata when you can drive these Porsches,” he said. “They are head and shoulders above them.”

Hachey should know. Over the last 25 years, he’s owned three Porsches – a 911, a 930 and a 914.

“I’m pretty much a Porsche fan,” he said. “I’m not really a car fanatic. I’m really very passionate about Porsches.”

En français: Une passion pour Porsche a mené Mike Hachey à lancer sa propre entreprise, California Custom Auto.

Wine bar on horizon

Hampton residents will soon have a new café cum lounge to frequent.

Carole Ann and Gary Forsgren, who also own a human resources consulting company, are turning part of a building they own on Centennial Road into a new socializing venue for people in the town.

When it’s fully operational, it will be a café/cappuccino bar/wine bar/ lounge,” Carole Ann said.

“We are also going to have live music, like jazz and blues.”

For five years, the Forsgrens have owned the building at 14 Centennial Rd., renting a downstairs space to Atlantic Press. A year ago, they began renting its upstairs space to Lifestyle Fitness Studio and Step In Time dance school and have added a new tenant, Nourish Life.

This summer, they began renovating the building to include a third floor cardio studio for Lifestyle Fitness, new shower and changing rooms, and the installation of new windows, skylights and heat pumps.

As part of the renovation, they removed an old kitchen that was at the front of the gymnasium, thinking they would turn it into a cappuccino bar catering to people finishing their workout and parents waiting to pick up their children from the dance school.

But then someone suggested a wine bar.

Forsgren ran with the idea. Upon investigation on what she needed to obtain a liquor licence, she discovered she needed to provide seating for 50 people. With that in mind, Forsgren altered her plans to enlarge the space.

The café/lounge won’t be ready for opening until November, but already Forsgren is envisioning what it will look like – an eclectic mix of antiques, memorabilia she and her husband have collected from travels to Mexico, church pews, and sofas to provide lots of comfortable seating.

“We want to keep it really young and fresh,” she said.

“It’s really exciting and great for Hampton,” she added En français: Les résidents de Hampton pourront bientôt fréquenter un nouveau café et salon.

Firm heat-treats wood

A Bathurst company plans to uses technology from Finland to producing superior decking material. Future Alternative Wood Products went into production June 1, using the patented Thermowood process to bring lumber to a high temperature.

The process makes the wood a single colour through its thickness, makes it rot-resistant and increases structural stability. Bathurst logging contractor Pierre Firiolet and his brother-in-law Robert Lennon formed the company in 2005 after discovering this technology in Quebec.The company employs seven people but expects to expand.

This month the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency loaned $500,000 to Future Alternative Wood Products.

En français: Une entreprise de Bathurst planifie utiliser la technologie de la Finlande pour produire du matériel de bois supérieur.

WHSCC looks at rehab future

The province might decide the future of the Grand Bay-Westfield rehabilitation centre this year. Three companies in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario have bid on the property, says Douglas Stanley, president of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission, told a legislature committee. An independent panel reviewing the WHSCC suggested selling the centre., which serves only WHSCC clinets now. A new operator could possibly draw clients from insurance companies or the RCMP or military. With new people the centre might add new services.

The commission will decide it it wishes to accept any of tghe proposals, but the cabinet must approve the sale of an asset.

En français: La province aura peutêtre à décider de l’avenir du centre de réhabilitation de Grand Bay-Westfield cette année.

Reforms effective Oct. 31

Reforms to the credit union system in New Brunswick come into effect Oct. 31. The legislative assembly passed the changes ibn the spring as a result of the scandal at the Caisse Populaire de Shippagan. The system looks more stable than it did two years ago, Robert Penney, chairman of the New Brunswick Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corp. told a House committee. This fall Auditor General Mike Ferguson will release the findings of his investigation into what led to the caisse populaire’s problems and how to reform the governance structure. Partyies might still file lawsuits, Penney said, although he would not speculate on when. Justice Minister T. J. Burke ushered in the changes in May.

En français: Les réformes apportées au système des caisses populaires du Nouveau-Brunswick entreront en vigueur le 31 octobre.

Saint John plant closes

The Uponor Group of Finland, which sells plumbing and heating systems, closed its Saint John plant in September. The company, which has North American offices in Apple Valley, Minn., and Mississauga, Ont., cited transportation costs and the United States housing market for the decision, which put 80 people out of work. In 2004, Business New Brunswick provided the company with #225,000 to upgrade production lines and create 30 jobs. “It’s really a result of our current and projected market conditions,” John Mendel, vice-president of human resources, said in an interview. “Because of the downturn in the housing market we had to look at ways to reduce our expenses.”

En français: Le Groupe Uponor de la Finlande, qui vend des systèmes de plomberie et de chauffage, a fermé les portes de son usine de Saint-Jean en septembre.

McCain opens plant

McCain Foods’ new $65-million potato processing plant in Florenceville will help lower production costs and keep the company competitive, said the company chairman.

New equipment will give the company greater flexibility in terms of production and help lower its energy bills, Allison McCain said at the official opening.

The new potato processing plant made its first french fries in late July, replacing the first factory ever built by McCain Foods more than 50 years ago in the same town. Equipment and processes at the new plant will use up to 50 per cent less water, compared to the old plant, and reduce electricity and heating costs.

The new plant will use biogas made from potato waste to heat the boiler.

En français: McCain Foods a officiellement inauguré sa nouvelle usine de transformation de pommes de terre de 65 $ millions à Florenceville.

Extension granted

A Quebec court this month allowed the Canadian furniture maker Shermag more time to work on a proposal to creditors. In May the court granted the company based in Sherbrooke, Que., protection from creditors. The new order extends the stay of proceedings against Shermag and its subsidiaries until Dec. 10. In December 155 New Brunswickers lost their jobs when Shermag closed plants in Edmunston and St-François- de-Madawask. Others lost jobs in Quebec. Business New Brunswick extended a forgiveable load of $600,000 to Shermag 18 months previously, contingent on the company remaining open for two years. The company said the extension will give it time to file its plan of arrangement and hold a meeting with its creditors.

En français: Une cour québécoise a permis à Shermag, fabricant canadien de meubles, plus de temps pour travailler sur une proposition pour ses créditeurs.

Employers expect to hire

Employers in Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton expect a decent outlook for hiring late this year, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. The quarterly survey showed that 17 per cent of Saint John employers intend to add staff, and three per cent cut back, over October, November and December.

In Fredericton, 27 per cent of employers expect to hire more staff, while nine per cent expect to reduce their payrolls. In Moncton, 19 per cent of employers plan to hire during the coming quarter, but only six per cent intend to cut back. Of 10 sectors surveyed, employers in mining report the most optimistic outlook, followed by employers in public administration and construction.

En français: Des employeurs de Saint-Jean, Fredericton et Moncton entendent embaucher plus d’employés plus tard cette année.

NBSC levies penalties

A settlements agreement in August with the New Brunswick Securities Commission permanently bans Alberta businessman Lorne Drever and three companies from trading in securities. Drever paid an administrative penalty of $100,000. Locate Technologies Inc. $60, 000, and Tubtron Controls Corp. $40,000. These respondents and 706166 Alberta Ltd.

paid a further $25,000 for costs of the commission investigation since 2004. Approximately 250 investors in companies connected to Drevor will get a chance to get their money back, totalling more than $1 million. These respondents sold securities without permission from the commission, contrary top a court order in 2004.

En français: Une entente conclue en août avec la Commission des valeurs mobilières du Nouveau-Brunswick interdit, de façon permanente, à Lorne Drever, un homme d’affaires de l’Alberta et trois compagnies à faire des transactions dans ce domaine.

Drilling continues

Assays on 35 additional holes show more near surface mineralization at the Nash Creek project, Slam Exploration (TSXV: SXL) reports.

Samples from one hole contained 2.73 per cent zinc and lead over 36.5 metres, another 4.76 per cent over 16.3 metres, the company states in a news release. Based on an estimate reported on July 10, 2007, the Nash Creek deposit comprises an indicated resource of 3.24 million tonnes grading 5.47 per cent zinc and lead with 27.8 grams per tonne silver, plus an inferred resource of 2.69 million tonnes grading 4.42 per cent zinc and lead with 20 grams per tonne silver.

Slam has completed 155 holes since this resource estimation. Drilling continues.

The company hopes to a hit its target of 15 million tonnes in the current drilling program.

En français: Les épreuves sur 35 autres trous démontrent de la minéralisation plus près de la surface au projet de Nash Creek, selon Slam Exploration.

Commissioners named

Bathurst lawyer Harry Williamson and former provincial cabinet minister Sheldon Lee from Bonny River, Charlotte County, will serve on the New Brunswick Securities Commission. Their responsibilities include setting regulatory and administrative policies, performing tribunal functions and providing oversight of management and staff. Justice and Consumer affairs Minister T. J. Burke also named Moncton lawyer Denise LeBlanc as an additional supplementary member of the commission.

Supplementary members serve on adjudicative panels that conduct hearings and make decisions as an administrative tribunal required under the Securities Act. Burke reappointed Anne La Forest, former dean of law at the University of New Brunswick, to the commission.

En français: Harry Williamson, avocat de Bathurst et Sheldon Lee, ancien ministre au Cabinet provincial, ont été nommés à la Commission des valeurs mobilières du Nouveau-Brunswick.

Forestry workers demand action

A group of forestry workers want Ottawa do something about the financial crisis killing their industry.

About 40 unionized forestry workers recently met at the Canada-United States border crossing in St. Leonard to hear from leaders of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada. Union vice-president Ervan Cronk says the workers want a new federal government to offer more financial assistance to people displaced by mill shutdowns across Canada. Cronk says the union also wants Ottawa to play a role in defining the future of forestry in Canada.

Cronk says the workers will work hard to make forestry a top issue for the political parties.

En français: Un groupe de travailleurs forestiers demandent à Ottawa de résoudre la crise financière qui est en train de tuer leur industrie.

Barrett Xplore Inc. buys networks in Ontario

Barrett Xplore Inc., a broadband network provider to rural Canada, says it has bought two wireless networks in Ontario from W3 Connex as part of a court ordered receivership process. The deal, announced Tuesday, adds more than 550 residential and business customers in Prince Edward County and South Dundas.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not revealed. Woodstock-based Barrett Corp. operates Xplornet Internet Services, Canada’s largest rural broadband provider. Last month the firm acquired a swath of 3.5GHz wireless spectrum from Alberta to New Brunswick.

En français: Barrett Xplore Inc, un fournisseur de réseau à large bande aux régions rurales du Canada, a acheté deux réseaux sans fil en Ontario, de W3 Connex.