April showers in February? The problem, of course, is that February

rain generally turns to ice. And that brings down powerlines, caused

floods and leads to lots of business for local body shops...of the

automotive and the medical variety.

So take care out there as the latest storm - complete with heavy

rains - heads our way.

Lots to see in the galleries today, from ice sculptures at Winterfest

to a heavy metal concert at Musiplex, the latest visit to the market

and to the 2008 UNB robotics contest, the provincial credit union

bowling tournament and some flying critters.

http://justFRED.ca/cmine/

In the calendars, plenty to do if you can get out and about.

http://justfred.ca/justfred.forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2008-2-18&c=1

Stay dry..and don't forget to Say Cheese!

Cheers,

George

justFRED.ca

What a week...with the ECMA's at one end and the Big Hearts for the

Homeless fundraiser concert for the Fredericton Emergency Shelters at

the other.

Freddy Mack (The Fox) and Brent Buchanan (KHJ) were terrific hosts -

with just the right mix of wit and wisdom. And as they both said, the

local talent on display was amazing: rock, country and a few things in

between. If you missed it...you missed a good one. And for a good

cause. We have the first excerpts from the show in the albums

today...along with photos of the glittering aftermath of the latest

snow and freezing rain storm to hit the city.

http://justFRED.ca/cmine/

In the calendar today? To be honest, we're too tired to look...it's

well after midnight and the day-long adrenaline rush working on the

Big Hearts show wore along with the residual impact of the late

evening coffee. But have a look...we seem to remember a whole lot

going on this weekend...

http://justfred.ca/justfred.forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2008-2-15&c=1

Just kidding...Winterfest starts this weekend, there's a robotics

competition at UNB, Snowarama is going for a world record, and more.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend and remember - we've passed the

halfway mark in the shortest month of the year and are headed ever

closer to spring, regardless of what Mr. Groundhog had to say.

Cheers,

George

justFRED.ca

PS - And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the producer of the Big

Hearts show - Catherine Harrop - for the concept and the delivery,

our art director Mila Jones for the graphics, and Stephen as the

Oracle of the big screen. Now get back to work...

Fredericton, NB =96 The reception centre opened=20

earlier this afternoon by the City of Fredericton=20

Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) Committee=20

at the community room in Willie O=92Ree Place was closed at 9 pm.

Several city residents from various areas of the=20

city dropped by over the supper hour to get warm=20

and have something hot to eat.

=93Since power outages have decreased in the city,=20

and residents have stopped dropping by the=20

centre, we have decided to close it,=94 said Fire=20

Chief Philip Toole, and director of the City of=20

Fredericton Emergency Operations=20

Committee. =93This was a valuable=20

exercise. Willie O=92Ree Place worked really well=20

for this purpose. I want to thank the Canadian=20

Red Cross, the St. John Ambulance, the=20

Nashwaaksis Y=92s Men, city staff, and especially=20

the employees at Willie O=92Ree Place.=94

The City=92s EMO committee was placed on alert at=20

noon on February 13, 2008 to monitor the winter=20

storm that affected the Maritime Provinces. The=20

reception centre was opened at 4 pm on February=20

14. This is the first time in recent memory that=20

the municipality has opened a reception centre.

Residents are reminded that for more information=20

on building a home 72-hour emergency preparedness=20

kit they can visit Public Safety Canada=92s=20

emergency preparedness site at www.getprepared.ca.

-30-

Media Contact: Wayne Knorr, Communications Coordinator, 506-460-2181

Reception Centre Opened for City Residents Still Without Power

Fredericton, NB =96 The City of Fredericton=20

Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) Committee=20

will open a reception centre for city residents=20

still without power as a result of yesterday's winter storm.

The centre will open at 4 pm today in the=20

community room at Willie O'Ree Place, located at=20

605 Cliffe Street next to Leo Hayes High School on Fredericton's north side.

Warm drinks and food will be=20

available.=C2 Volunteers with the Canadian Red=20

Cross will staff the reception centre, assisted by city staff members.

-30-

Media Contact: Wayne Knorr, Communications Coordinator, 506-460-2181

If ever we needed a mid-winter holiday, this is it: months of snow,

then freezing rain and now ice-covered trees and powerlines just

waiting for a wind to wreak some havoc. Cross your fingers...and walk

very carefully.

The Calendar is pretty simple today: Happy Valentine's Day. And we

hope to see you out tonight at the Big Hearts for the Homeless

fundraiser at the Playhouse where Rock takes on Country with radio

hosts Freddy Mack (The Fox) and Brent Buchanan (KHJ) MC'ing the show.

http://justfred.ca/justfred.forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=2272&day=2008-2-14&c=1

Photos of yesterday's storm and aftermath in the galleries...plus the

dress rehearsal for tonight's fundraiser.

http://justfred.ca/cmine/

Have a great day - hope you get the Valentine you were hoping for -

and don't forget to Say Cheese!

Cheers,

George

justFRED.ca

Snow Storm Shuts Down City Operations

Fredericton, NB =96 Today=92s winter snowstorm has=20

resulted in the closure of a variety of City of Fredericton operations.

Fredericton Transit will make its last run from=20

Kings Place at 3:15 pm this afternoon.

Fredericton City Hall and related administrative=20

offices will close their doors at 2 pm. All=20

non-essential City of Fredericton employees will=20

leave for the day at that time.

Fredericton=92s arenas will close as of 2 pm. This=20

includes all hockey games and other activities scheduled at the arenas.

The Fredericton Indoor Pool will also close at 2=20

pm. This includes all swimming lessons for the=20

remainder of the day and other activities at the indoor pool.

Snowplows will continue to concentrate on major=20

streets and bus routes. Once home, residents are=20

asked to stay off city streets, unless it is an emergency.

-30-

Cancellation Notice:

Schools in Fredericton are cancelled due to the storm warning in

effect:

Winter storm warning in effect.

Today:Cloudy. Snow at times heavy and local blowing snow beginning

this morning. Amount 10 to 20 cm. Wind becoming east 20 km/h gusting

to 40 near noon. High minus 1. Tonight:Snow at times heavy and local

blowing snow changing to ice pellets or freezing rain this evening

then possibly to rain or freezing rain late this evening. Rainfall

amount 15 mm. Fog patches overnight. Wind southeast 30 km/h gusting

to 50 becoming southwest 30 gusting to 50 then becoming northwest 30

gusting to 50 overnight. Temperature rising to plus 3 by morning.

The Daily Fred

Three new concert videos in our galleries today including the Gary

Sappier Experience (from the Aboriginal Showcase), former Canadian

Idol runner-up Gary Beals (Black Vibes Showcase) and ECMA Award

Winners The Saddle River String Band (Bluegrass Showcase) all

recorded Live @ The Plex.

http://justFRED.ca/cmine/

There are plenty of events in today's calendar, but given the storm

that's coming, it's probably best to check first to see what is and

what isn't cancelled:

http://www.justfred.ca/justfred.forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2008-2-13&c=1

Valentine's Day - Your Final Warning

If you don't have something special for that someone special, get a

move on...And our recommendation is simple: tickets to the Big Hearts

for the Homeless "Who Does Love Better? Rock or Country?" show at the

Playhouse, the annual Valentine's Day fundraiser for the Fredericton

Emergency Shelters.

And with that in mind, check out our Who Does Love Better Poll. The

contest winners are posted, but you can still vote. As of this

morning, country is leading rock by a narrow margin.

http://www.justfred.ca/justfred.forums/showthread.php?t=160

Cheers,

George

justFRED.ca

Now's your last chance to vote on who does love better - Rock 'n' Roll

or Country - and get your name into the ballot box to win free tickets

to the Big Hearts for the Homeless Valentine's Day Show @ The

Playhouse....and help us figure out which of the two musical genres

does the best job.

So far, it's a dead heat...

http://www.justfred.ca/justfred.forums/showthread.php?t=160

We're running some of our videos from last week's shows at Musiplex.

Today, Razor Red from the Aboriginal Showcase and Steve Lawrence &

Universal Language from the Black Vibes showcase.

http://justFRED.ca/cmine/

And ECMA's winner for best classical album of the year - The New

Brunswick Youth Orchestra's Forbidden City Tour - is features on

justFRED Radio.

http://radio.justFRED.ca/

Lots to do today in the calendars...from movies for tots to free

skating to pulbic readings.

http://justfred.ca/justfred.forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2008-2-12&c=1

And if you don't have your Valentine's Day gift for your significant

other...time's running out.

Cheers,

George

justFRED.ca

Joel Plaskett Emergency wins six 2008 East Coast Music Awards at 20th Anniversary Celebrations

Dave Gunning, The Rankin Family and Jamie Sparks each pick up two

(Fredericton, NB) – Joel Plaskett Emergency was the big winner tonight, winning six 2008 East Coast Music Awards at the ECMA Music Gala at the Aitken Centre in Fredericton, New Brunwick as part of the 20th Anniversary Celebrations; with Dave Gunning, The Rankin Family and Jamie Sparks winning two each.

The 2008 East Coast Music Award winners are:

McDonald’s Entertainer of the Year: George Canyon

*** This makes Canyon the winner of the Fans' choice Entertainer of the Year award for the fourth consecutive year

FACTOR Recording of the Year: Ashtray Rock (Joel Plaskett Emergency)

Female Solo Recording of the Year, sponsored by Memorial University of Newfoundland: If You Were For Me (Rose Cousins)

Group Recording of the Year, sponsored by Stantec: Ashtray Rock (Joel Plaskett Emergency)

Konica Minolta Male Solo Recording of the Year: House For Sale (Dave Gunning)

CBC Galaxie Rising Star Recording of the Year: Brand New Skin (Stephanie Hardy)

*** This award comes with a cheque for $5,000.00 from Galaxie, CBC’s Continuous Music Network

Vibe Creative Group Single of the Year: "Fashionable People" (Joel Plaskett Emergency)

SOCAN Songwriter of the Year: Joel Plaskett for "Fashionable People" (performed by Joel Plaskett Emergency)

Video of the Year: "Fashionable People" directed by Randall Thorne (Joel Plaskett Emergency)

Pattison Outdoor DVD of the Year: Back Stage Pass (The Rankin Family)

African-Canadian Recording of the Year: It’s The Music (Jamie Sparks)

Alternative Recording of the Year: The City Destroyed Me (Nathan Wiley)

Bluegrass Recording of the Year sponsored by Musiplex: Saddle River String Band (Saddle River String Band)

Blues Recording of the Year sponsored by Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline: Into The Dirt (Thom Swift)

Classical Recording of the Year: Forbidden City Tour (New Brunswick Youth Orchestra)

Country Recording of the Year sponsored by Samsung: You Ain’t Gettin’ My Country (The Divorcees)

CBC Galaxie Francophone Recording of the Year: 11 :11 (Vishten)

*** This award comes with a cheque for $5,000.00 from Galaxie, CBC’s Continuous Music Network

Folk Recording of the Year sponsored by National Car Rental: Looking Back - Volume 2: House For Sale (Dave Gunning)

Gospel Recording of the Year sponsored by Taylor Printing: New Beginnings (Chelsea Nisbett)

Instrumental Recording of the Year: Live From the Music Room (Troy MacGillivray)

Jazz Recording of the Year sponsored by Greater Fredericton Airport Authority: For The Record (Bill Stevenson & Tom Easley)

Pop Recording of the Year sponsored by Tony’s Music Box: Little Jabs (Two Hours Traffic)

Rap/Hip-Hop Single Track Recording of the Year: Hard To Be Hip Hop (Classified)

Sirius Satellite Radio Rock Recording of the Year: Ashtray Rock (Joel Plaskett Emergency)

Roots/Traditional Group Recording of the Year sponsored by Western Destination Marketing Organization: Reunion (The Rankin Family)

Roots/Traditional Solo Recording of the Year: Falling On New Ground (Kimberly Fraser)

Urban Single Track Recording of the Year: If You Were (Jamie Sparks)

In addition, the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to New Brunswick group 1755. The groupwas instrumental in popularizing Acadian music here in Atlantic Canada and have paved the way for many francophone artists over the last 25 years. 1755 was together from 1977 to 1984, having toured successfully in Canada, the United States and France. After they disbanded in 1984, band members Pierre Robichaud, Roland Gauvin, Ronald Dupuis, Donald Boudreau and Kenneth Saulnier went on to achieve success in solo careers or with other bands.

The ECMA Music Gala capped off a four-day extravaganza of multi-genre musical performances, conference events and workshops that attracted more than 2,000 delegates from as far away as Europe, Japan, Australia and the United States.

The 2008 East Coast Music, Awards, Festival & Conference will be featured in a one-hour national TV program titled BARENAKED EAST COAST MUSIC! hosted by Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies. The special will celebrate Canadian Music, East Coast Style featuring the very best musical performances captured at various locations and events throughout the weekend. Performers include, Meaghan Smith, Jenn Grant, hey rosetta!, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Tom Fun Orchestra, Dave Gunning, and Ron Hynes. It will also include segments from a special ECMA 20th Anniversary Concert featuring Lennie Gallant, Damhnait Doyle, Ashley MacIsaac and Bruce Guthro. The program is produced by Dream Street Pictures in association with CBC and the East Coast Music Association. BARENAKED EAST COAST MUSIC! will be broadcast Sunday, March 2nd at 7:00 pm on CBC Television.

Fredericton walked away with kudos from the ECMA's for 1) friendly

people, 2) some great music and 3) a party atmosphere.

At least, that's what we heard at the gala awards ceremony and

concert at the Aitken Centre last night.

Our galleries are filled with pics and videos from the four-day music

extravaganza.

http://justFRED.ca/cmine

It's a real shame that such a small crowd turned out for what was one

of the best concerts of the ECMA's - the Black Vibes showcase at

Musiplex on Saturday night with performances by ECMA award winner

Chelsea Nisbett, Canadian idol runner-up Gary Beals and the

incredible young Faith Antoine. We'll feature some of the video from

the show over the next few days...so you'll at least get to see and

hear what you missed.

Here's Chelsea Nisbett:

http://justfred.ca/cmine/displayimage.php?album=700&pos=0

Coming up this week - Big Hearts for the Homeless as rock faces off

against country in a classic battle over who does love better.

We even have some tickets to give away.

http://blogs.justfred.ca/justfred/2008/02/11/big-hearts-for-the-homeless-ticket-contest/

So it's now Monday...the party's over...and it's time to get back to

work. If you can keep your eyes open...

Cheers,

George

justFRED.ca