Category: Arts and Culture


Country run

Filed under: Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 12, 2012

There are signs about town with a success banner draped over them. the signs once bore registration info  for the Merritt Country Run that was held on Sunday. Three hundred 25 runners participated in the event that ranged from  around the park to 5 K, 10 k, and a half marathon of 21 K.

Although the event stressed participation the first in , a fellow 7 feet tall and named Hans  said that he qualified  over 20 times for the Boston Marathon. This was in response to the question ” Did you know that you placed ahead of a Boston Marathon qualifier ” ;John Peachey 4rth in in the half Marathon said he qualified in Victoria for the Boston but never made the trip to the east coast.

The last three in were all women pushing baby carriages. We didn”t ask how far they had entered to run.

Today in history June 12,1939

The Baseball hall of fame opens in Coopers Town USA

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100 dollar prize

Filed under: Environment, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 6, 2012

The organizers of the river festival on June 8th are offering a hundred dollars for the best costume at their June 8th event. Today the art for the festival is due. The Baillie House,Merritt BC is receiving 5 x 7 small paintings on the topic of rivers.

Bev Veale an oft principal in the Valley Visual Artists turned in a half-dozen entries this AM promising to make the day a cultural delight.

No you can”t put maschera on your right eye and come as a sockeye.

Today in History,June 6th,1946

The National Basketball League is established with 11 teams

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Garden art

Filed under: Arts and Culture by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
May 28, 2012

The weekend saw the Communities in Bloom committee and the Baillie House had a succesful art  in the garden and community artisan works showing in Merritt. The Nicola Valley Heritage Society , The Baillie House ,recorded 350 visitors on Saturday in their part of the event.

The weather was exceptional mid twenty celsius with calm and clear sky’s. The Baillie House reported selling out of hard ice cream except vanilla.

George Armstrong a descendant of GB Armstrong a principal in early 20th century pioneer enterprises in the Nicola Valley was in attendance.

 Today in history May 28 585 BC

A solar eclipse occurs as predicted by a Greek philosopher and scientist ;making for a cardinal date in calculating time. The battle of eclipse ends in a truce.

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Bright Red Book Shelf

Filed under: Sports and Leisure, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
May 17, 2012

Literacy Merritt has a number of book selves about the town. Books on the honour system can be taken and returned with little control. There is one in Brambles Bakery and one at the CPO office on the 2000 block of Quilchena.

A source says there are about a dozen locations where used books of all kinds are available to take read enjoy.

Today in History, May 17th 1970

Thor Heyerdahl sets sail from Morocco in a papyrus boat The RA 11

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Fire season

Filed under: Environment, Government Works, Sports and Leisure, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
May 16, 2012

There are the tell tale signs of impending summer around. A tall young fellow in the signature blue heavily pocketed pants with the forestry tan shirt was in the local Starbucks this morning. A fire fighter. He said he was from the Fraser Valley and wore a ball cap with a helicopter on it and Valley Helicopters written about it. He said he was in wild fire suppression.

There is a a fire camp north of here and training school with in days we will expect to see hopefuls running across Voght Park with heavy equipment to qualify for the fire season. Indications are that people are expecting a more pronounced season this year then last.

A fire hazard sign is at the City Fire Hall leaving Merritt towards Highway 8 West,it is operated by the Ministry of Forests and is strategic for those that may be traveling the Fraser Canyon Route. It is sometimes effected by fires.

Today in History, May 16th 2005

Kuwait allows women suffrage.

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Club election

Filed under: Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
May 15, 2012

The local Toastmasters Club is having their annual club election of officers. A private unincorporated group affiliated  with an international organization promoting better speaking ,listening and thinking, they elect once a year.

 As a not for profit educational group they seek to keep access available to people wishing self improvement. They are in 80 countries and one of the clubs in district 21(British Columbia) was the first outside the United States back in the 1930’s.

The average member stays under two years and takes the experience into real world.

The organization relies a lot on the internet and can be viewed at . www.toastmasters.org .

Today in History, May 15th 2010

Jessica Watson becomes the youngest person to sail around the world un assisted.

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Rivers Day, water festival

Filed under: Environment, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
May 10, 2012

June 8th there is a rivers day celebration at Rotary park. 100

 Dollars for the best dress up , fish water , environment. music and photo/ painting contest.

Displays and PR come as you are if not a fish.

Today in History, May 10, 1924

J Edgar Hoover is made the director of the FBI and stays on till 1972 and his death.

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Merritt Country Run

Filed under: Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
May 8, 2012

Sunday June 10th,2012 There is a run to raise money for the disadvantaged in minor sport ext.

5 km run walk/ run (9:00 am)

10km walk/ run (9:00am)

21 km run/walk (8:00am)

The event is at Voght Park.

Minor hockey in Merritt has traditionally used the concession at  the arena for funds to keep fees down for better access to minor hockey. 

www.merrittcountyrun.ca

Today in History, May 8, 1912

Paramount Pictures is  founded.

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Merritt Speedway

Filed under: Sports and Leisure, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 24, 2012

The local raceway bunch are starting their season once again. The 2012 race schedule begins with a season opener May 19th and 20th. This is a day event, the next is June 23rd a night event.Then:

  • July 07 ; night.
  • Aug. 04-05; night.
  • Aug. 25 night;  toy run
  • Sept. 08 night;- food drive
  • Oct.6-7 Day : The Bill John memorial invitational!

Rain out dates:

  1. June 24 day
  2. Aug,25 day

Day races time trials are at 1 PM, racing 2 PM.

Night races time trials 5 PM, racing 6 PM

They say to come catch the action.The raceway is located in Lower Nicola.

Today in History. April 24, 2007

Ice land says that Norway will give defence to the nation during Peacetime.

1990 – Gruinard Island, Scotland, is officially declared free of the anthrax disease after 48 years of quarantine

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Run off

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Environment, Fauna by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 18, 2012

 The junction of the Nicola River  and the Coldwater River at Highway 8 has three high water dynamics today, someone planted a shovel in the soil in a stand up position as an apparent gauge for the water level, and a knotted rope is suspended over the flow of the river  by a thin appendix of board tied off in a tree. A worker was seen to be putting a pizometer down a river side well on the south slope of the river.Pizometers are used to measure flows of water.

Last year there was a large snow pack and visible snow could be seen into August. Mid May through June is characterized by high water in the local rivers.

There is a Dam at the ouflow of Nicola Lake that regulates the Nicola River.

Today in history April 18,1912

705 survivors of the Titanic land at New York Harbour.

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Curb to curb

Filed under: Enterprize, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 12, 2012

The water and sewer upgrade on 1st avenue is now being paved over. Curb to curb asphalt is being rolled out today and that is an improvement over the street when it was tore up last year.

The City of Merritt has the Civic Center a facility that has a main auditorium that can accommodate about 500 people. As well there are ancillary meeting rooms are available at varying rates the best rates are reserved for non profits tha ideal with youth issues. The highest rate is for commercial activity. It is a popular venue for an annual home show. The show takes up the facility and is well attended by business here and from other communities. The local arts counsel makes good use of it and has at least 4 quality programs a year. For the benefit of all but in particular an amenity for those that have chosen Merritt for retirement .

The Civic Center is also now enjoying curb to curb pavement on the vacating street to the west of  the building.

Today in history, April 12. 1955

The polio vaccine developed by Dr.Salk is declared safe and effective.

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Smart meter

Filed under: Barns and Old Buildings, Enterprize, Environment, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 10, 2012

On the 1900 block Quilchena Ave, in Merritt there is a couple of businesses in the same building. Around the back are two hydro meters one an analog one a digital.(more later)

At this time there are complaints about higher bills then before the utility put in digital meters. The Hydro in BC operates as a not for profit business and lower rates are mandated by law. When the production and distribution of power is efficient, there becomes a benifit to consumers. They can not take retained earnings from year to year except for projects. If people have been not fairly metered in the past by old analog meters then eventually a rate decrease will come through fairer and less defeated metering.

We know of a couple of techniques  the utility is employing to ensure that complaints are legit. Remember that taking any unmetered power, is theft and subject to criminal prosecution.

Today in history, April,10 1983

Born Haig Sutherland Canadian Actor.

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