Category: Arts and Culture


Big rigs

Filed under: Recreational Vehicles, Tourists, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 16, 2011

Large trucks are a concern when driving, a smashed haul truck behind a tow truck yesterday was a reminder of the force and kinetic energy involved when things go  wrong between trucks and others. Drivers have a class one license to run these things and are considered professional drivers. Have medical requirements to pass to keep their license and are very concerned about their driving record as it is a livelihood.

A source tells me that 2 months ago a haul truck tangled with a 50 foot trailer at the Coldwater interchange here, much damage was done and fortunately the accident was survivable.  It’s a great loss of time and effort and a real upset to life’s. We recommend that you keep to the divided freeways and when using the routes that are not remember to keep vigilant and stop to  do your tourist browsing where it is safe to do so. Keep your holiday safe and memorable without calamity.

Today in History, March 16,1968

General Motors produces its 100 millionth vehicle.

Tags: ,
Comment

Week in pictures, 12/3/11

Filed under: Enterprize, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 12, 2011
mineral exploration

Mineral exploration trenching

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Tags: , , ,
Comment

Nicola Valley Explorers

Filed under: Environment, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 9, 2011

A local group of naturalists and yes they hike  fully clothed. The group has been here for some years, Merritt has a lot to offer to the hiker; lots of trails Demo forests and one of the Chamber themes of some years is a lake a day as long as you stay. Abandoned rail beds connect to the old kettle valley line and in-recent years the Government of British Columbia has spent in one instance 17 million dollars to restore old train   tressel’s  in conjunction or with direction and insight  with  Explorers like non profits.

Today in History, March 9th  1796

Napoleon Bonaparte marries his first wife Josephine.

Tags: ,
Comment

Prospecting

Filed under: Enterprize, Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 8, 2011

After the discovery of the rich ore body at Craigmont’s claims in the late 1950’s there was much prospecting and exploration in the area around Merritt. Trenching soil sampling , line cutting were all methods to find sign of mineralization. All through 1960s and into 1980s exploration activity thrived here. Many public-ally traded company’s sought capital to go about the risky business of exploration. Some gave good returns others wall papered dens with split stock certificates and NPL share certificates ( No personal Liability). The government gave 3 year taxation holidays for profits from mines going into production.And eventually flow through shares came along to give tax write offs guaranteed to investors in the risky business.

The scars and memories are all here. And the legacy of success as well livelihoods that were more than subsistence was the hallmark of  the happy times of production mining.

Today in History, March 8th,1817

The New York stock exchange is founded.

Comment

Art show, Arts council.

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 4, 2011

Shirley Reynolds , Jean Kieglerl ,and Wendy Eecout are calling themselves Prism as a group for a month-long showing at the Old Court House Gallery. The handle is an anachronism for “painting really inspires something magical” The group has ambitions to be noticed provincially and as members of the Valley Visual Artists, the show  endorsed by the Nicola Valley Arts Council, which is a member of the provincial arts council umbrella.That is a good ambition and they have the background to do it. (one is a retired arts teacher). Their style runs from impressionism to realism and some abstraction.

The show reception is at 4:00 PM today and the gallery is open and maned  with a curator Fridays and Saturdays 10 am to 4 PM

Today in History, March 4, 2002

Canada bans human cloning.

Tags: ,
Comment

Home show

Filed under: Enterprize, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 24, 2011

The weekend after next is the annual Merritt home show. Business’s come from other communities as well as here and a good showing of products , artisan works and public interest booths is annually arranged. Future service contracts, direct sales and further information are all available at the weekend show . In downtown Merritt the show is  well scheduled past the Christmas season for savy consumers to get the jump on the latest and best and have a rep to highlight the products.

Today in History,February 24th,303

Rome publishes an edict  that begins persecutions of Christians.

Tags: ,
Comment

Provincal Ambassadors

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Fashion, Fauna, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 18, 2011

A former local resident and now a member of the Lytton Town ship a small community about an hour from here in the Fraser Canyon Mike Hume, was at the local toastmaster club last Tuesday Mike, the president of the Provincial Ambassador Society has put on the competition here at the local civic center for several years . The local toastmaster club has put on speech craft for local ambassador hopefuls and Mike was encouraging two more competitors to become short-term members of the local club to gain some experience in public speaking. Mike’s father Keith still lives just out-of-town in Lower Nicola and has a great bird hobby that includes  some exotic species. Both Mike and his dad were one time proprietors of a local pet store and a going concern before taking up a social work postilion with the Lytton First Nations.

Today in History, February 18,1929

The first Academy awards are  awarded.

Tags:
Comment

Car Crash

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Enterprize, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 17, 2011

A home off Nicola avenue’s, 1800 block in Merritt was struck by a car at about 2:30 am Saturday morning, the septuagenarian  women said that the police were there almost immediately and said the driver had been drinking.The elderly couples grandson was visiting from Alberta and asleep on the couch when the crash happened. No injury’s reported by the owner. And she had confidence in the car insurance as she had a file number from the attending police. Tire marks across the lawn  were littered with lens pieces and she said her concrete step saved here from more damage.

The couple spend many years as an agent for the Vancouver Sun and maintain a great garden at this home.

Today in History, February 17, 1753

Sweden , February 18th becomes March 1 as they convert to the Gregorian calendar.

Tags:
Comment

Red Cross

Filed under: Enterprize, Social Activism, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 15, 2011

There was a red cross presence here several years ago when a conservative government was elected on a privatization campaign. It is not a big presence now,I know a volunteer that arranges crutches  for people was the last I heard of them.  I am not sure they still do that. Crutches can be rented from drug stores and purchased out right. The organization is known as a NGO Non Government Organization in the United States and as a relief organization. Something that the government does most of here. An American  Red Cross Ambulance showed up in a used car lot recently we think reflecting a better purchasing position of the Canadian dollar across the line.

A source says that Wall Mart sells crutches and the lowest price is the law.

Today in History, February 16, 2005:

The Kyoto protocol come in to effect after being ratified by the Russian legislature.

Tags:
Comment

Chamber awards

Filed under: Enterprize, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 14, 2011

The business community(106 people) came out for their annual awards gala Saturday the 12 th. Merritt at one time talked of 500 plus Business licenses over time by the local govt B DC, that would be  about one for every bakers dozen of men, women, and children.

The winners are:

Harry Sanders Memorial Award: Posts Meat Market

Community Booster: Dr. Don McLeod

Tourism: Baillie House Tourist Information Center.

Employee of the year: Penny Blain, BC Visitors Center.

Non-Profit business of the year: Nicola Valley Health Care Auxiliary.

Home Based Business Excellence: Second Avenue Signs:

Business of the year: Best Value Glass.

Today in History, February 14, 1998

The first of 24 satellites for GPS are put in place.

Comment

Bush pilots

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Enterprize, Sports and Leisure, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 11, 2011

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Loss of life can never be totally rationalized.

Tags:
Comment

Soapstone

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 10, 2011

The guy that does this soapstone here says that some soap stone has asbestos and could be dangerous in dry form. So if you take up check it out.

Today in History, February 10, 1996

Super computer beats Chess Champion G Kasperov for the first time

Tags:
Comment