Category: Social Activism


TGIF-Farmers Market

The farmers market in Merritt is up and running . It uses the parking lot at the curling rink of Voght street and operates 9 -2 pm Saturdays. Last week there were 7 tables but it was not part of the regular program , it was a special day for raising a 400 dollar bursary. We want to target someone that is trying to get schooling without acquiring debt or accessing grants, said the marketing manger for the group. The groups bursary is going in memory of Millie Mitchell the elderly women that died working to locate Bio solid sites, here.

The market is open may through October, Saturday morning and early afternoon.  There is expected to be more tables on the official start this Saturday.

https://www.facebook.com/nicolavalleyfarmersmarket

On this Day: May 15th 1929 The first Academy Award is given out.  

Big Brothers P/U

DSC_9644The Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization has a Drop off/ PU bin outside the Pharmasave store on Garcia Street here in Merritt British Columbia. A sources says the new services generates income for the group at 46 cents a pound 23 cents goes to a person that services the bins and 23 to BBBS.
The clothes and household effects are sold to Value Village for sale in their retail outlets.
On This Day: May 14th 1973.

Sky Lab is launched from Cape Canaveral.

Cape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a cape in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state’s Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.

It is part of a region known as the Space Coast, and is the site of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Since many U.S. spacecraft are launched from both the station and the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, the terms “Cape Canaveral,” “Canaveral”, or “the Cape” have become metonyms that refer to both as the launch site of spacecraft. In homage to its spacefaring heritage, the Florida Public Service Commission allocated area code 321 to the Cape Canaveral area.[2]

Other features of the cape include the Cape Canaveral lighthouse and Port Canaveral, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. The city of Cape Canaveral lies just south of the Port Canaveral District.[3] Mosquito Lagoon, the Indian River, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore are also features of this area Source  Wikipedia

Bill Gates Plaque

Giving by those that have recieved Photo KDG

Giving by those that have recieved
Photo KDG

A plaque was placed on the wall of the local public library here in Merritt British Columbia remembering the donation of 33  computers from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation that started the computer lab here. The computers have long since been replaced and  the plaque insures that the memory will live on. The lab also was supported by the donation of the six corporate terminals and 20 Microsoft software applications.

On this day: May 13th 1994 Johnny Carson does his last tonight show as host.

TGIF- Gender equal

Have a great weekend!

Have a great weekend!

The community college NVIT has placed gender neutral signs on the facilities next to the library refit. The slide in signage says ” rest room ” and joins Starbucks down the hill from them and others as first come first serve cans.
There is no connection to the fact that the Alberta Legislature elected an historic half and half gender mix in the election this week.
On this Day: May 8th 1990
The World Health Organization confirms the eradication of small pox.

Country fun run

A marker tells the palce where a young a man was murdered and his body left in Voght park, the site of the Merritt Country run to promote diversion, for youngsters at risk.....

A marker tells the place where a young a man was murdered and his body left in Voght park, the site of the Merritt Country run to promote diversion, for youngsters at risk…..

On June 14th the annual country fun run will take place. Starting a 8am, at Voght park in Merritt the event is a jump rope for heart endorsed event.The run is the 6th annual and it raises money to fight deprivation for children for activities like organized ball and hockey.

The MCR has grown to include over 350 registrations, 100 volunteers and well over 100 spectators. The race distances include Twice Around the Track, and a 5K, 10K and a 21.1K.

Merritt is located in the sunny Nicola Valley and conveniently accessed from Vancouver, Kelowna or Kamloops. Merritt’s rolling hills and cattle ranches, resort lodgings and fishing lakes combine a rich culture and history with outdoor adventure. Great location and wonderful climate are just two reasons to make Merritt a running destination or even a “runcation” for runners of all ages.

We are a registered non-profit society, and all profits from this race go directly to the local Jump Start program (of which Canadian Tire matches our donation dollar for dollar).
FMI:http://www.merrittcountryrun.ca/

On this Day: May 6th 1989

Coaster wars begins with the construction of  a two hundred foot ride at Ceder Point, Sandusky Ohio.

International Press Freedom Day

Happy Press Freedom Day

From the Proprietor Review

This lady was demonstrating with a man about smart meters October 4 /12 she said that I was grand standing and didn't cooperate for a picture

This lady was demonstrating with a man about smart meters October 4 /12
not every one has confidence in the law to cooperate for a picture. Photo KDG

 

 

 

TGIF- stay -engaged- volunteer.

Eva was wearing her Red Cross name tag at  the local Starbucks yesterday. With her husband a retired Elementary school teacher Eva volunteers and says ” look me up if you need wheel chairs or crutch’s.”

Eva is a  former Polish National and is a naturalised Canadian.

On this Day: May 1st 1999
The body of George Mallory is found on Mount Everest after 75 years missing.

Fish and game bunch archery day

May 30th and 31 will see the local game club host an archery weekend.
The shoot is billed as a 3D event and is at the club 7.2 kilometers up Aberdeen Road in Lower Nicola BC ( off highway 8 ).The Club rate is 75 dollars for a family, 35 a person, 20 dollars for a youth There is no Saturday dinner, however camping included.
info: Brian.Moore@gov.bc.ca
On this day: April 15th 1892
The General Electric Company is formed.

Eclectic population

1917 diploma from NVGH , Nurse training Photo KDG

1917 diploma from NVGH , Nurse training
Photo KDG

The calendar has brought to light a number of items from history in the Nicola Valley, 100 year anniversaries of the drill hall, and the center piece of the the town ” the Coldwater Hotel” indicate a great effort by a small population. The approximate 700 people of Merritt at the twentieth century produced a lot of “golden age ” construction on the coin of three coal mines but may have often suffered from a sense of abandonment from time to time with  the draw of events like World War 1 .

An accounting of 2000 men working on the Kettle Valley Rail Way, resulting after construction in a local Doctor  becoming an engineer,brakeman and passenger may be a personality quirk of those that wanted a future here or real abandonment. One of the signatures of the local doctors on the nurses qualification went on to be the local MLA after antics like ” riding a boxcar” down from the Kettle Valley as a mode of transportation.

At this writing a electric co gen plant is under construction on in the area of the ruins of ” Merritt Light and Power” a progressive project of the people of the era at the turn of the twentieth century as well. That activity certainly suffered from abandonment more then once in its completion. According to John Chase, a local official  the present plant is a huge partnership with two other similar projects in BC, (one at Fort Saint John). They are too big to suffer abandonment.

Editors Note: The recent 500 KV lower mainland transmission project and its completion as well as Teck corporations mine expansion projects in the billions give a sense of security . However kudos to those who have found the joy of risk in a reasonable way that have resulted in expression and spiritual joy. For those that found themselves in frontier with or without abandonment or even risked modern travel or invention, the trying of something new, good on you and we hope some of it spills over on us.

On this Day: April 7th 1890

The completion of the Lake Biwa Canal:
hose

Computer availability

The local public library is finishing off its painting job by painting the doors inside. On the 24th only 3 of the 9 computers were available due to drying paint.
The Library is at 1691 Garcia in Merritt and has 9 public access computers and a couple of overload Wi-Fi laptops.
The lab is reopening at noon on the day of this writing and a sources there will be no more interruptions due to painting.
Guest passes for non members are available at the front counter with out charge.

On this Day: March 25th 1958
Canada flies its Avro Arrow jet fighter.

Shelia’s Bluff


Shelia’ bluff visited Merritt on Sunday. Usally an eastern Canada phenomenon, Sheli’s bluff is a winter storm or snowfall just before St Patrick Day that makes you think winter is back.

On this day: March 17th 2013

Th largest asteroid to hit the moon since NASA’s scrutiny began in 2005.

 

book sale,  file photo KDG

book sale,
file photo KDG

The 10,000 item book sale ends on Saturday, prices remain at 2 dollars for hard cover a dollar for paperback. Proceeds to childrens programs.

On this Day: March 13th 1991:
Exon agrees with the US Dept. of Justice to pay a billion dollars in clean up costs for the Valdeze incident.