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Category: Sports and Leisure

TGIF- Okanagan observatory

Filed under: -Photography, Space, Sports and Leisure, Technology, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 10, 2014

Royal Astronomical Society, Okanagan observatory. The Astronomical society has a free observatory open Friday’s on the way to Big White ski resort outside Kelowna. they report that they started with a long term lease for a dollar and have put 300 thousand more to convert the old gravel pit into a viewing platform. At a recent presentaion in Merritt, they showed an interested crowd the heavens from the local Public Library parking lot. The equipment they have on site is more powerful and they offer it free on Fridays. http://www.okanaganobservatory.ca/

The Okanagan Observatory hosts free public observing nights every Friday. The Okanagan Observatory is exactly 4 kms up Big White Rd from Hwy 33. That makes it only 35 kms from Rutland Rd. We will be pointing out the Milky Way and constellations with special astronomical laser pointers as we tour the night sky. Club members will have their telescopes on hand and be using the observatory 25 inch telescope to show off celestial wonders such as the Moon, planets, comets, dying stars, stellar nurseries, globular clusters, open clusters and galaxies.

Today in history: October 10th 1967 The outer space treaty come into effect after being signed by over 60 countries.

Tags: Kelowna, observatory

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Al Horne

Filed under: Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 9, 2014

The Merritt public library is having Al Horne give his presentation on Alexander the Great again this fall. The talks will be on Thursdays at 6 PM October 30th , November 6 & 13th.
In an interview with Al he said that he would be going over some of the tactics of the ancients in war, including getting out of the way of elephants. Al always provides a context to his particular lecture and often brings it to relevance of the present.
Registration is required at the desk in the public library.

Today in history: October 9th 1999
The last flight of the SR71

Tags: Alexander the Great, Libraries

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Nicola Naturalist Society

Filed under: Environment, Fauna, Fish, Flora, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 8, 2014

The local Naturalists had there AGM on September 18th, they reported 63 members after its 4th Year of operation. they have a schedule of monthly meetings in the non summer part of what they do. Speakers included Bruce Archibald ( Fossils of the BC interior),Richard Doucette, ( mine reclamation) Barbara Pryce ( nature conservancy of Canada) and they reported others. The group had outings over the year including the Christmas bird count, Spius Creek Hatchery, and many frogging outings. They had two nature presentation in elementary schools by members. They report their website as having 5 50 visits on average per month, http://www.nicolanaturalists.ca/ .They report a healthy balance sheet with a three fold increase in income over last year to $14,119.11 after paying $11,259.62 in expenses they had a net income of 2,859.49. The club has a balance of $6,936.02 in cash and $4,310.26 in assets, with outstanding liabilities of 75 dollars in cheques to clear, and 1500 dollars in liability to BC nature. they report 15 dollars in petty cash reserve. Directors for 2014/15: Alan Burger Norm Hanson D. Kerridge Anne Pang Chris Lepsol Margret Carlson

The next meeting is on October 16th 2014 with Doreen Olson on the Similkameen Natural park proposal, the presentation starts at 7:00 in the NVIT Lecture Theater

Today in history, October 8th 1904 The Canadian City of Edmonton Alberta is incorporated.

Tags: Merritt, naturalists

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TGIF-Pacific Forest Rally

Filed under: -Photography, Cars, Environment, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 3, 2014

Every fall there is a sports car rally in the Nicola Valley,The Pacific Forest Rally is the 4th stop on the national tour and is on October 3rd and 4th this year.Tenty eight competitors are featured in the rally guide and will compete for place and time beginning in a ceremonial start at 5:30 PM on Friday October 3rd, on Granite avenue downtown Merritt.
The rally has an offical charity, The Abilitas Foundation.
Best vantage points:
Lily lake, night special,815-830 PM, Friday October 3rd.

Today in History:October 3rd 1955
The Mickey Mouse club has its debut.

Tags: Merritt, Pacific Forest Rally, Recreation, Susan Roline

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Watch for deer

Filed under: Recreational Vehicles, road safety, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

September 19, 2014

Deer crossing roads other then freeway watch for deer!
File photo: KDG

A man on a Harley Davidson motorcycle at Starbuck’s 10:30 am on Thursday said that the rain was not a bother to him as he was well protected with a wind screen and leathers. when asked if he had to watch for spray from passing vehicles he said “he had to watch for everything and he had two deer jump out on the road as he left the Preditor ridge area in Vernon in the morning.
The man came from he washroom at Starbucks, happy to have had the warmth of the electric hand dryer, and continued on his way with coffee in hand.

Today in history: September 19th 2010

The leaking well from the drilling rig Deep Water Horizon is finally sealed.

Tags: deer, highways, Motorcycles

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Run for research…

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

September 17, 2014

The Terry Fox run was held on Sunday, Rich Hodgson from the local Rotary club was at a way point to make sure that participants had what they needed. We counted 61 walk, run, jog, push persons at the way station. The oldest in his eighties the youngest in baby carriages.

Terrance Stanley “Terry” Fox CC OD (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over C$600 million has been raised in his name.[1]

Fox was a distance runner and basketball player for his Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, high school and Simon Fraser University. His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, though he continued to run using an artificial leg. He also played wheelchair basketball in Vancouver, winning three national championships.

In 1980, he began the Marathon of Hope, a cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. He hoped to raise one dollar for each of Canada’s 24 million people. He began with little fanfare from St. John’s, Newfoundland in April and ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day. Fox had become a national star by the time he reached Ontario; he made numerous public appearances with businessmen, athletes, and politicians in his efforts to raise money. He was forced to end his run outside of Thunder Bay when the cancer spread to his lungs. His hopes of overcoming the disease and completing his marathon ended when he died nine months later.

He was the youngest person ever named a Companion of the Order of Canada. He won the 1980 Lou Marsh Award as the nation’s top sportsman and was named Canada’s Newsmaker of the Year in both 1980 and 1981. Considered a national hero, he has had many buildings, roads and parks named in his honour across the country. source Wikipedia /b-quote

Today in history: September 17th 1908

The Wright flyer aircraft crashes killing the first air traveler Lt.Thomas Selfridge

Tags: Cancer research, Fund Raiser, Terry Fox

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Spawning salmon

Filed under: -Photography, Environment, Fauna, Fish, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

September 16, 2014

Salmon, Photo: KDG

Returning salmon, look for spawning opportunity, Photo KDG

Returning salmon, look for spawning opportunity, Photo KDG[/caption]Salmon are seen in the Coldwater River, some dead after spawning some still looking for the right bit of gravel bed that was the water temperature from the time the fish were fry here. Water temperature is all important for the navigation of returning salmon.

Black bears are also being seen near the water of the two rivers that meet in our Nicola Avenue, with piles of scat about town it makes for a caution that needs to be respected.

Today in history: September 16th 1987

The Montreal accord is signed for the protection of the ozone layer:

Tags: Fish, Merritt British Columbia

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The Railway Man

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

September 4, 2014

Monday, September 15th 2014 sees the return of the Nicola Valley Theater Society Season. They are presenting Railway Man rated 14A it starts at 7 PM a change over last year at the community college lecture theater. The society is part of TIFF the Toronto International Film Circuit and shows 6 monthly films a year. Membership is required, a 2 dollar season membership is available at the door. Five dollar admission,no food in the lecture theater. Season ticket holders must come early to ensure admission.
The Railway man features Academy award-winning stars Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman.

Colin Andrew Firth CBE (born 10 September 1960) is an English film, television, and theatre actor. His films have earned more than $3 billion from 42 releases worldwide.[1] He has received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and three Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as the Volpi Cup. His most notable and acclaimed role to date has been his 2010 portrayal of King George VI in The King’s Speech, a performance that gained him an Oscar and many other worldwide best actor awards. It went on to gross $414,211,549 worldwide.[2]

Identified in the late 1980s with the ‘Brit Pack’ of new young British actors headed by Gary Oldman, Firth’s rise to stardom progressed at a slower pace than many of his contemporaries. It was not until his portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the 1995 television adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that Firth became a household name. The show was a hit in the UK and USA and established him as a marquee talent. This led to roles in films such as The English Patient, Bridget Jones’s Diary (for which he was nominated for a BAFTA), Shakespeare in Love and Love Actually. In 2009 he received widespread critical acclaim for his leading role in A Single Man, for which Firth gained his first Academy Award nomination, and won a BAFTA Award.

In 2011, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was also selected as one of the Time 100.[3] He was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Winchester in 2007, and was made a Freeman of the City of London in 2012. Firth has campaigned for the rights of indigenous tribal peoples and is a member of Survival International. He has also campaigned on issues of asylum seekers and refugees’ rights and the environment. Firth commissioned and is credited as a co-author on a scientific paper on a study into the differences in brain structure between people of differing political orientations
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC (born 20 June 1967[2]) is an Australian actress, singer[3][4] and film producer.[5] Kidman’s breakthrough film role was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm. Following several films in the early 1990s, she came to worldwide recognition for her performances in Days of Thunder (1990), Far and Away (1992), and Batman Forever (1995). She followed these with other successful films in the late 1990s. Her performance in the musical Moulin Rouge! (2001) earned her second Golden Globe Award and first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Her performance as Virginia Woolf in the drama film The Hours (2002) received critical acclaim and earned Kidman the Academy Award for Best Actress and Silver Bear for Best Actress at Berlin film festival. source Wikipedia

Today in history: September 4th 1888
George Eastman registers his Kodak trademark.

Tags: Arts and Entertainment, Colin Firth, internatinal films, Merritt British Columbia, Nicole Kidman, railways

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October sky

Filed under: -Photography, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

August 28, 2014

Moon
Photo KDG

The summer has seen a number of super moons this year, accounts that the moon is closer than it has ever been have gotten people to look at the sky when the moon is full. The next one is on September 8th and the one in October should be good as well. A source says that the darker October sky will present a better opportunity for viewing a photos then the ones before when the horizon still has some residual light. The length of the day on September 9th will be 12 hours and 47 minutes. the full moon on October 8th will rise at 10.51, November 8th at 22.23.

Harvest Moon” and “Hunter’s Moon” are traditional terms for the full moons occurring in autumn, in the Northern Hemisphere usually in September and October respectively. The “Harvest Moon” is the full moon closest to autumnal equinox, and the “Hunter’s Moon” is the one following it. The names are recorded from the early 18th century.^[17]OED for “Harvest Moon” cites a 1706 reference, and for “Hunter’s Moon” a 1710 edition of The British Apollo , where the term is attributed to “the country people” (The Country People call this the Hunters-Moon.) The names became traditional in American folklore, where they are now often popularly attributed to “the Native Americans“.^[18] The Feast of the Hunters’ Moon is a yearly festival in Lafayette, Indiana, held in late September or early October each year since 1968.^[19] In 2010, the Harvest moon occurred on the night of equinox itself (some 5¹⁄₂ hours after the point of equinox) for the first time since 1991.^[20]^[21]

All full moons rise around the time of sunset. Because the moon orbits the earth in the same direction the earth is rotating, the moon rises later each day – on average about 50.47 minutes later each day ^[22] The Harvest Moon and Hunter’s Moon are unique because the time difference between moonrises on successive evenings is much shorter than average. The moon rises approximately 30 minutes later from one night to the next, as seen from about 40 degrees N or S latitude. Thus, there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise for several days following the actual date of the full moon.

The Merritt Public library is having a talk by an astronomer named Colleen O’Hare on September 20th at &:30 pm, sign up at the front desk is required.

Today in history: August 28th 1609
Henry Hudson discovers Delaware bay

Tags: Moon, Public library

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Wednesday deadline

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Barns and Old Buildings, Enterprize, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

August 27, 2014

319 LIndley Creek Road

The Nicola Valley Fall Fair has a deadline for entries to its 2014 fair. The deadline is the 27th at 5 PM. Entries with the correct fees must be dropped of at Blacks Pharmacy or
Pharmasave by that time. Catalogues with Entries are available at the Merritt herald for the exhibition on August 30 and 31st at the Merritt exhibition grounds #319 Lindley Creek Road. There are two forms in the catalogue each section must have its own form and there are 17 sections of items for entry. there are also 5 sections of Members choice. entries fees are 75 cents an item for a possible 3 dollar first, 2 dollar second and 1 dollar third cash prize. there are also lots of prizes from manufactures and sponsor’s.
The Dance is on August 31st 8:30- 1AM with the live Country music of The Randy Chillhitza Band

FMI:Marianne Reimer
Today in history: