Category: Arts and Culture


Darling buds of May

The season changes little from the time of Shakespeare , temperatures are closing to near 30 degrees, standing at 24 degrees  of Celsius officially now and buds of trees are bursting out into leaf all about this bottom valley land of the Nicola valley that Merritt occupies.

With a cooling trend in the forecast for Sunday after 3 days of probable rain the long weekend maybe a mix of pleasure and restraint, however  it comes out, live through it by driving safely.:  http://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-49_metric_e.html

Growth, Coldwater hotel dome and flag Photo KDG

Growth, Coldwater hotel dome and flag
 FILE Photo KDG

 

 

 

Today in history: May 15th 1935

The Moscow Metro is opened to the public.

Live play, Urban Campus

Live play, the local grad committee at the high school is having a live theater event. On june 6th 9th and 10th at the Merritt Secondary School starting at 6:30 PM, The play Urban Campus will be presented.

Tickets are at  the door and by donation to the Grad committee , or the ask wellness society.

There is a warning about mature theme and discretion is required. The title on the handbills shows a dripping red characterisation to the lettering.

Today in history: May 16th 1929

The Academy  Awards is established in Hollywood California.

Pancake breakfast

 

There is a pancake breakfast at Smith Pioneer Park , in Lower Nicola on May 25th 2014 it includes a  yard sale and has the Nicola cruisers and vintage car bunch listed on the handbills. 10 dollars a table for the yard sale, 5 if you bring your own. Set up at 8 am  Breakfast 9-11 sale 9-12.

Call 250-378-8847

 

Today in history: May 14th 1925

Virginia Woolfs novel Mrs Dalloway is published.

Lawn bowling

The City of Merritt maintains a property on Merritt Avenue behind the Desert Inn Hotel that is the home of the local Lawn Bowling club. In the recent weeks a rehabilitation  of some dandelion and other weeds has been under taken by city crews. A worker says that today they are bringing a fine sand to apply and make the course,” a very high standard”. The lawn bowling Club was once over by the Gilles House Extended care facility on Jackson street and extension of that building  made a property swap see the current location take over most of  the Nkawla Park providing a barrier to the river and an opportunity for a new club house. the Nkwala park had been the location of the founder of Merritt’s house as a display .

Lawn Bowling is well established and a good exercise and social interaction: http://bowlsclub.org/club/1102/

Today in history: May 13th 1994

Johnny Carson does his last late night television show.

The local BCJHL junior amature hockey team

 

The local youth centered junior hockey team here in Merritt , The Merritt Centennials finished out of the play offs this season. Turned away by the  Penticton version Vees in a decisive  4 game fashion.

Some scuttlebutt about says that attendance is in in jeopardy over it. This team in its 40 odd years has weathered a lot of difficult times. Including  but it has fundamental support with an active booster club and business confidence.The production of young gentle people  has been great with several members making it to the big league after enjoying a career jump in the amature team here. Eddie Beers, Paul Kruse, and others have made significant lives for themselves coming out of this organization.

Season tickets for the 14/15 season are on sale now and a social event coming.

The next step in the progress of a hockey stalwart is  the spring  evaluation camp in abbotsford June 14/15/14

Lots of luck to number 94 Sam Johnson as the 14/15 Captain.

http://www.merrittcentennials.com/leagues/front_pageCents.cfm?clientID=3359&leagueID=8957

The team has an office in the 2000 block of Granite avenue up from Spirt Square of Voght street.

Today in History: May 7th 1718

The City of New Orleans Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Blenville

TGIF bow hunting

Bow Hunting is an activity practiced by some in this area . Stalking quietly and taking a stag deer can be an activity that increases your sportsmanship ( however there is no catch and release like fishing).

There are two popular sports shops in this community and both have bow hunting followings. On May 5th to 8th there is a Bow hunting course being hosted by local expert Othmar Vohringer at the Merritt Civic Center on Mamette Avenue.

Othmar is animal behaviorist and has worked with many animals including Tigers in China.

Today in History: May 2nd 2012

A pastel version of the scream sells for 120 million dollars

The Valley Visual Artists have the court house gallery this month in Merritt. Gallery Director Meriel Barber says that the local group has the facility and will be showing in May  for the 20th annual art show and sale.

The VVA is hosting an opening reception on May 2nd from 5-7 PM, and an open house May 3 and 4th 2-4 PM:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/332310336907270/?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/events/1443158935929198/?fref=ts

The show runs May 2nd to 31st at the Court House Gallery,  at the old court-house 1800 block of Nicola avenue in Merritt.

Today in history: May 1st all

Begins the month of music in New Zealand

The third night at the museum

The Thompson Nicola Film Commission had a casting for extras for the 3rd night of the museum. They are asking for Egyptian looking men and are having a casting call in Kamloops. The call was on the weekend but a source at the film commission said that they are still open to applications, send a picture , clothing size and contact info to natm3casting@gmail.com .The work is outside Kamloops BC near Cache Creek.

The Thompson Nicola Film Commission has a google map showing current and historical set locations: http://tnrdlocationsmoviemap.com/

Today in history: April 29 2004

Oldsmobile builds its last car after 107 years of production.

TGIF garden plot

 

The Nicola Valley  Community Garden  Society is taking requests for a garden plot. Registrations for 2014 can be accommodated by the Baillie house  Drop in center/ tourist info / historical society at 2202 Garcia street. the cost for 2014 would be 40 dollars including a 5 dollar membership and a 15 dollar damage deposit. There is a possibility of a wait list.

Some advice from the garden society ” use your twigs for plant tags” ,”just shave the ends and then write on them with felt pen”.

E mail: nicolavalleycommunitygardens@gmail.com

 

Today in history April 25th 1944

The United Negro College fund is established

Automatic check out

The Merritt Public library has an automatic scanner check booth for taking out items from the library. The service is down at this time and a source says it will be back in service shortly. The library has just transferred its data base to a new system and a source says that when the automatic system comes back into service then there will be instructions on how to initialize your library card and account to the new system in respect to the automated option.

The Merritt Public library is part of the Thompson Nicola Regional District system , with services in Kamloops, Logan lake, Ashcroft, Barrier, Cache Creek, Clinton, Clearwater, Sun Peaks, Lytton, Chase, and a traveling book mobile.The library is at 1691 Garcia street in Merritt BC.

Today in history: April 24th 2005

Snuppy becomes the worlds first cloned dog.

 

Esl

 

There are English as a second language classes in progress at the public library here in Merritt. In the multi purpose room about 7 people are being facilitated  by Sharon Edwards.

English as a second language is important to some people as Government services  are only guaranteed in one or the 2 official languages French or English.

English as a second language (ESL) is the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages.

English is a language which has great reach and influence; it is taught all over the world under many different circumstances. In English-speaking countries, English language teaching has essentially evolved in two broad directions: instruction for people who intend to live there and for those who do not. These divisions have grown firmer as the instructors of these two “industries” have used different terminology, followed distinct training qualifications, formed separate professional associations, and so on. Crucially, these two arms have very different funding structures, public in the former and private in the latter, and to some extent this influences the way schools are established and classes are held. Matters are further complicated by the fact that the United States and the United Kingdom, both major engines of the language, describe these categories in different terms: as many British observers have had attributed to them,[1] the saying goes that “England and America are two countries divided by a common language.” source Wikipedia

Jury selection can be based on the understanding of the nuances of language.

Today in history: April 22nd 1876

The first ever national baseball game is played in Philadelphia

 

Appledorn tulips

 

Appledorn tulips, for Easter,  Photo KDG

Appledorn tulips,April 16th 2014, Merritt BC
for Easter,
Photo KDG

These tulips have bloomed in time for easter weekend here in Merritt BC.  We enjoy thinking of Andrea Rogers who came to spend her live here in Merritt from Appledorn Holland. Andrea married a Canadian  solder Norm who passed a few years ago. Norm was involved in the liberation of Holland in the Second World War and managed the Super Value grocery store here in Merritt.  Andrea Came to Canada in 1948 and continues to live here and enjoys gardening and flowers of various kinds.

Today in history: April 16th 1985

Born: Mark Baker Welsh Author