Category: Arts and Culture


TGIF- Classic car show and shine Sunday

Classic car show and shine file Photo KDG

Classic car show and shine, Brian Cave shows his motor
File Photo KDG

 

The Nicola Valley Cruisers are having their show and shine on Sunday at Central Park.

Central Park is on Voght street beside the RCMP and the lacrosse court, coming into Merritt from the South Kamloops it is on your right.

On this Day: July 22nd 1964

Born Japanese Comedian  Teruyoshi Uchimuia.

Two dollars to love an animal

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Two dollars for pet ears from the SPCA Photo KDG

At the Shell Station next Starbucks this morning this lady was on her way to a family reunion in Alberta. When asked about her glasses she said that they came from a generic store and that the ears were a 2 dollar donation to the SPCA. “Did she have another reason to be at the SPCA,” “no I would do serious harm to someone if I worked there” was her reply.

BC SPCA’s Wild ARC treats almost 3,000 injured and orphaned wild animals each year. Staff & volunteers work tirelessly to treat and rehabilitate each patient for their release back into the wild.

Source: BC SPCA’s Wild ARC treats almost 3,000 injured and orphaned wild animals each year. Staff & volunteers work tirelessly to treat and rehabilitate each patient for their release back into the wild.
The SPCA is noted to be a dream employer( and has more then 400 employees in the province working in over 40 locations.
They say that if a job does not suit you:

Our hiring philosophy goes beyond filling positions – we are interested in finding people who want to make a difference and want to work with people who share their passion. If you are interested in joining our team, explore our current openings and be sure to check back for new job postings if there are no positions that suit you today.

The organization is accredited by image Canada.

On this day: July 21st 1949

The North Atlantic Treaty is ratified in the US.

TGIF-prosperity be glad for it

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A sidewalk marketer readies his signs File Photo KDG

A sidewalk marketer readies his signs
File Photo KDG

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A liquidator readies his signs to walk the sidewalk to promote his few days in a rented downtown building a number of years and downturns ago.

On this Day July 15th 2006

Twitter a social media platform is launched.

Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo

Where would ranch's be without horses File photo KDG

Where would ranch’s be without horses
File photo KDG

The  84th annual Nicola Valley pro rodeo is on for the September long weekend. September 3and 4th will see the pro qualifying event in the Rodeo Grounds south of town.

The rodeo is popular with many of the local ranching community as well as competitors from all round.

 

On this Day: July 13th 1793

French journalist Jean Paul Marat is assassinated in his bath tub.

John Paul taking a tree down, bench area November File Photo KDG Photo KDG

John Paul taking a tree down, bench area November File Photo KDG

The forest service requires something called a pre-harvest siliva-culture prescription before logging plans can be approved by mills. Starting in May of most years some crews are about Merritt to plant trees. One time catch phrases such as Weyerhaeuser’s  We plant two trees for everyone one we harvest have not rung aloud as much as in previous decades. Regulation seems to have taken over a little from public relations.

There are tree-planters at work this summer in the Black Diamond Ranch area by Brookmere in the Coquihalla, one from Salmon Arm, an immigrant from eastern Europe  says that it is possible to plant 3000 a day at piece work rates. A long slender shovel blade distinguishes them from other forestry workers.

The Merritt Desert Inn is an annual venue for a Tree Planters Ball that sees many dress up in costume for a night of hilarity. The Ball was held in June this year and a management source at the Desert Inn said there were few planters this time and she knows of none at this writing.

Weyerhaeuser (pronounced “Warehouser[4]) is one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands. It owns or controls more than 6 million acres of timberlands, primarily in the U.S., and manages another 14 million acres under long-term licenses in Canada. The company also manufactures wood and cellulose fiber products. Weyerhaeuser is a real estate investment trust.[2] source wikipedia 

A logger sports day in forestry week is on the agenda for Merritt this year, celebrating forestry week September 23rd-25th 2016. Billed as West Coast Lumberjack Show, it will feature a chainsaw carving competition. By two Carver Kings as seen on HGTV. The show will include will be forestry logging equipment displays and a big rig show and shine.

Forestry week was observed with a parade in recent years and the Fall Fair grounds sported two high spars for climbing competitions. Climbing with spurs was a skill that hydro, telephone and loggers practiced at work.

On this Day: July 12th 1971

The Australian Aboriginal flag flies for the first time.

 

 

 

 

TGIF- Survey off Voght street

Google mapping car File Photo KDG

Google mapping car
File Photo KDG

A couple of Underhill and Underhill’s surveyors are doing the alley behind the Murray GM facility today. ‘Only we know were the survey pins are “said one of the operators of the line of sight equipment. “i don’t fully understand what google GPS dose in these things “says the operator of the legal survey.

The GM business has frontage on the Nicola Avenue/ 97c million dollar upgrade involving a lane upgrade and street light overhaul.Trucks turning right going west have had troubles numbers of times do to lane squeeze.

General Motors Canada is reported to be showing interest in smart vehicle navigation according to the CBC.
On this Day: July 8th 1874
The Canadian Mounties begin the march west from Ottawa.

Music in the Park

One of many musician that get Merritt BC on their resume. File Photo KDG

One of many musician that get Merritt BC on their resume.
File Photo KDG

Public and free the recreational department presents music in the park (Central Park tonight). The Doug James Band is on tonight starting at 6:30 and running to 8:30. Look for the Rotary Band Shell.

On this Day July 7th 1954

Elvis makes his radio debut.

Nicola Valley Cruisers, Classic Car show….

Date line Merritt BC….

The area across from the Royal Bank on Garcia Street is often an area of parking for waiting pairs. Last week there  was a senior couple sitting in an immaculate orange 2008 Corvette Sting Ray. ” We got it for our 50th anniversary of marriage” and we are members of the local car classic car club they said. The couple talked about Barry Jackson’s 1958 Stingray with a  bit of glee as if they were progressive by having a couple of decades on Jackson in age and having a late model but classic style Ray.
The couple talked of the local show coming toward the end of July here. With a youthful tang, (after all I had asked them if their parents had bought it for them for graduation.

 

Model T On of local enthusiast Jack Cross's dozen model Ts File Photo KDG

Model T
One of local enthusiast Jack Cross’s dozen model Ts
File Photo KDG

July 26th will see the Classic car show in Merritt once again.

Editors note: The show is on July 24th at Voght Park in Merritt, KDG

 

 

 

 

On this Day: July 5th 1946

The Bikini swim wear goes on sale in France.

Freedom is still a desire and a risk….

Happy Canada Day-Friday

Happy Canada Day.

The flag the flies atop the hill entering Merritt from the west hyway 8, it is kept by the ready mix company that owns the land and gravel pit. File Photo KDG

The flag the flies atop the hill entering Merritt from the west off highway 8, it is kept by the ready mix company that owns the land and gravel pit.
File Photo KDG

Friday marks the 149 year of confederation. A vision of a country different from the old world is highlighted by symbols such as the Peace Tower in Ottawa.
A federal state of provinces and territories marked and lively with the rule of law and the rights of its citizens; Canada remains a hope and inspiration to many.
The luxury of generosity has often been displayed by the nation. Security and thankfulness its fuel. May we guard its value and course over the bitterness of strife always.

 

On this Day: June 29th 1915

The North Saskatchewan river  floods giving Edmonton its most severe flooding in its history.

Art walk-2016

Artist and fans enjoy opening

Artist John Yellowlees and fans enjoy opening file photo KDG

The Art walk enjoys the sponsorship of the Chamber, The Arts Council and the City.
The Chamber sponsored art walk is on again. A display of local artisans paintings or art will be placed about town at sponsoring organizations and will run from July 1st through July.
The Chamber office says that passports will be available starting Monday at the Chamber office or the downtown tourist info center on Voght street.

The Art walk is sponsored by the Arts Council, The local Chamber and the city of Merritt.

On this Day: June 28th 1846

The Saxophone is patented .

Canoe quest to north west coast of BC

Canoe quest to north west coast of BC File Photo KDG

The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion approved in May/2016 had conditions, one was ongoing consultations .
The expansion will increase tanker traffic from Vancouver, something unattractive to many and in particular First Nations. Because the expansion is considered by the regulator as in the public interest, consideration must have been given to what this will cost us. Including ascetics and life style. The shirt and caricature above was made for a canoe trip by First Nations people up the coast of BC, and shows an attitude that we understand and appreciate.

Large tankers can only be really be appreciated by sailors,  double hulls by engineers,  natural beauty by most and the coast of BC best by the indigenous residents. This will cost us as paying for any necessity does. A consuming humanity awaits and a vigilance demands a balance and respect for the costs and commitment of watchers and attitude molders.

 

On this Day: June 24th 1938
A meteor weighing over 400 metric tons explodes in to pieces in the earths atmosphere, landing at Chicora Pennsylvania.

Line in.

OSPREY AND CHICKS ,JULY 2010 File Photo KDG

OSPREY AND CHICKS ,JULY 2010
File Photo KDG

The 138 KV power line is in to the new wood waste generator, coming down Voght Street from the new upgraded substation behind the court house it goes across Central Park’s western boundary with the gated community known as Sherwood park ( after the developer Ron Sherwood a long time city councilor that developed it and is now retired to Victoria.). It crosses the highway up the hill from Norgaards Ready Mix,after coming across the Nicola Valley Golf and Country Clubs fairway. Down the hill and past the Osprey nest on the highway 8 entrance to town, where it continues across the then Nicola River to twin steel poles leading across the old John Collet Ranch/ Jon Peachy Buffalo Ranch. Onward to cross the Midday Valley Road to the 40 Mega Watt plant,still under construction.
The highlight of the line were the ropes left strung, for some weeks from the pole that supports the Osprey nest to a pole across the Nicola River. It was taunting to see the Osprey return then build a new nest on the cleared off platform while attached by ropes to the power line. The Hydro crews eventually came and placed a new pole 10 feet away from the nest and towering 15 feet above it.
The activity did not seem to put any stress on the birds who still continue their normal fishing and mating activity.( it will be interesting to watch when the line is energized although the birds will make nests on the top of regular power poles with seeming immunity to any kind of harm.) There are about a half dozen of the birds in area) ,only a single pair occupy the nest.

Nest gone File Photo KDG

Nest gone
File Photo KDG

The operation was supervised by a biologist working with the Lower Nicola Indian Band.

Ospreys returned from where they go in the winter File Photo KDG

Ospreys returned from where they go in the winter
File Photo KDG

On this day: June 15th 1934
The Smokey Mountain national park is established.