Category: Public health


Flu

 

Flu shots in the public interest (free) ended at the end of November here. The flu season is November to April . most everyone can benefit from a flu shot. and it may keep you from a unpleasent run of  sickness.

Travel centers are available for those that may be going out of the country. Your resistance to flu that originates in other counties could be poor.

There is information on shots here: http://immunizebc.ca/clinics/flu

 

Today in history: January 6th 1986

Paul McShane Irish football player born.

Power lines can kill

Model plane stuck in power line

Model plane stuck in power line Photo KDG

There was a model plane stuck in the power lines this week behind the local arena. When we showed this picture to the City works Foreman Dan, he said he would call Chris  from the hydro the plane was gone before the crews were able to find it and all concerned agreed that to try to recover something like this could be fatal especially with a stick reach we hope that it fell over time and no one attempted to get it down with any method. (including throwing rocks.)

Today in history: January 2nd 2004

Stardust flys past comet wild 2 collects samples that will be returned to earth.

Defibulator

AED & Fire Extinguishers, both necessary

AED & Fire Extinguishers, both necessary (Photo credit: Frederick Md Publicity)

There is a community access defibrillator in the foyer of the Merritt Civic Center. The unit was donated in part by the Boston Pizza organization the defibrillator is marked AED and behind a glass cover.

Today in History: November 7 1996

Nasa launches the Mars  global surveyor

Sharon McIvor

Sharon McIvor

The local community college has a speakers series, its first event of the season last night featured a local member of their faculty, Sharon McIvor. Sharon has an activist’s bent to her career. She is A lawyer but generally refuses income from her place on the bar.  Does not like to practice criminal law,she has however a couple of presidents to her credit including O’Connor vrs Canada were she got on going revisions to the way victims statements are reviewed in sexual assault cases and the McIvor amendment to the Indian act that brought 46,000 grand children of the  Indian women that lost their status over time  through marriage. The women were restored in the 1980s by legislation but their grandchildren were not at that time.

Sharon voiced concerns on poverty oppression and missing or murdered women. she has a voice at the UN through a couple of committees .Sharon also voiced concerns about the relationship of First Nations with the Police. she also said that if it were proportional to population there would be about 19,000 missing or murdered non aboriginal women.

She feels that the way government is addressing issues is by providing money for training to groups, personal safety is the one she took ownership of for her people. She alluded to it being something but seemed less than satisfied.

Sharon McIvor says she was born in the Nicola Valley and can trace her mother’s side as always being here.

Today in History: November 5 1943

The World War Two bombing of the Vatican

Engaging the world

Simon Fraser University has a presence here today at the local community college. Their theme is Engaging the world and are specifically presenting to Academic criminology prospects for degrees.

SFU has a distinction of having won the world pipe band  contests in Scotland. The school is named after the Explorer Simon Fraser who was the first to make it to the Pacific ocean by Land. He also relied on the most major river in British Columbia that bears his name today. The Fraser River empties into the Pacific ocean at Vancouver

Jack Lee, Pipe Sergeant of the multiple World ...

Jack Lee, Pipe Sergeant of the multiple World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band warming up prior to the band’s performance at the 2005 Bellingham Highland Games. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today in History: November 4 2008

The United States elects its first Black American President.

The local police had a road block on Voght Street last evening we were taking pictures and a constable asked if ” we could help you sir” . After a reply we both went about our business which included more pictures and demands to see drivers licences.

The corner on Voght street is a traditional spot for the local police to have road blocks . A well advertised campaign at Holiday time called counter attack checked for drinking drivers at  about the same location.  The bend in the road afforded a surprise effect for cars coming down from a hotel on the hill. The hotel is gone in a fire some years ago but there was a good response to the Halloween activities by locals this year, with many people dressing up and having fun.

The road block was not around the bend  and was visible coming down the hill. The RCMP  remind people to be visible after dark on this social occasion.

Editors note: On examination of the photos the police where around the corner from the long hill that used to accommodate the Largest hotel in Merritt’s patrons returning to the center of town.

Today in history: November 1,1765

The British Government makes the Stamp act to fund military operations in North America by the 13 Colonies.

Pop in yoga

Wheel of knowledge

Wheel of knowledge

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation has a free pop in yoga class at 12:30 at NVIT in the foyer. There is a wheel of knowledge also to spin to find answers to FAQs, they are visiting campus in Penticton and Kelowna in the next few days.

There is a photo contest ” don’t forget to look” 3 prizes for photos of your pop in yoga.

Over 40 have a test, www.gohave1.com

Editors Note: prostrate cancer has come under fire for being over treated of late however detection is important in cancer treatment, may be on progression.

Question of the Wheel: Men can get Breast Cancer? answer yes because breast cancer is defined by the armpit and upper chest to the shoulder area.

Today in History: September 23 1962

The Lincoln center for performing arts opens in New York City

Bang and shake: quake

Sometime after 9PM on the 23rd of August we felt a bang and shake for about half a second in the apartment building that we live in . Fully expecting to see an amount of damage to the building by a car or trick that stuck it we didn’t get out of bed. The next day talk of an earthquake was about the town and news reporting said that Merritt had had a small earth quake, in the range of 2.6 on the energy released scale. Emergency vehicles were about on Friday after the shake and people said that they went to the Clay banks park over flow to a fire that  was not there and there were reports of Fire works at a local school. Lots of accounts of people hearing or feeling the brief shaking including retired fire chief Don Moyes who thought it may be like the experience of his child hood when he would hear and see explosions in the coal mines. Another person working at the Grand said that he spilled a bit of his drink he was preparing.

The United States Geological Survey does not list it on their records this may be that it was not on a plate boundary or an US threat. They do list an earthquake  on the 19th in Osoyoos, 2.5 in energy at 15.32 , UTC 7.00.

Talking to a young woman from Japan on Saturday at Starbucks she said 2.6 is a weekly occurrence for her and her companion said he doesn’t know if it’s a quake, sometimes ,or a passing truck.

The confusion is an enigma about fires and fireworks here is some advice from  a Canadian source on what to do in an event:

http://embc.gov.bc.ca/em/hazard_preparedness/earthquake_information.html

Today in History: August 27th 1928

The Kellogg-Briand pact is signed, it eventually leads to 61 countries signing on.

Duct pack

The hydro ( or a consultant) here in Merritt are checking old manholes for compatibility for water lines today. A source says the real work to is a duct pack in the Voght street  and the burial of the power lines  that now are on the west side of the road. He also says that the top like goes to a substation in the highland valley and is high voltage up to 63000 volts.

The single line sits atop some ageing power poles at this time.

Today in History: August 15th 1481

The Sistine Chapel is consecrated.

Pass on the left

There is some advice published in the window of the Community policing office in respect to riding a bike. ” when on the sidewalk overtake people on the left and ring the your bell as you pass.”
In the last few weeks I have been overtaken on the left while walking several times by fast moving bikes.Not once did any noise come from the bikes and there was a sence of danger as to the possibility of stepping left at the wrong time and being in a collision.
While a drivers licence will give the authorities jurisdiction over a bicycle rider on the publicly maintained highways. Not all riders are licensed and the ones on the sidewalk especially so. People licensed are subject to fines and complaints under the motor vehicle act
however there is no obligation for them to have 3rd party insurance like all other drivers on the road.
All that aside once hit you are hurt and maybe seriously no compensation can give that back. Prevention remains your best defence. Watch out and have a safe good day.

Today in history: August 6, 1960
Cuba takes all American property in a nationalization scheme.

Randy Friskie

On July 19/20th there is a music event here in Merritt. Billed as Merritt The City of Music one of the features is an entertainer named Randy Friskie. Friskie a Elvis tribute artist has been an often contributor to the  entertainment genre about this town. He will be joined in the weekend event by other stalwarts such as Kenny Hess.

https://kevingriffiths.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/7685/

Today in history: July 4th 1827

Slavery is outlawed in New York State

IBEW

There were some members of the international union IBEW at a local watering hole last night . They are here to do the 500 KV line to the lower mainland.

Doug Giles the job Stuart  and representative for the BC local 258 and his entourage said there is 4 yrs of construction work in the line Merritt to the lower mainland.

One of the party said they were looking for common sence in their operations.

CLAC The Christian labours of Canada is the other union involved in the line construction.

Today in history: June 20th 1837

Queen Victoria succeeds to the throne of Great Britain.