Environment | The Proprietor Review

Category: Environment

World Health Day, hats off to the discoverers!

Filed under: Environment, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

April 7, 2016

the Nicola Valley still enjoys the close proximity of a small hospital with a full Lab File Photo KDG

The Nicola Valley still enjoys the closeness of a small hospital with a full lab. File Photo KDG

Health is the preoccupation of the healthy, but most people know its value. Serious disease has decimated populations until recent times. things are better with bell weathers like the golden age of health after the discovery of more vaccines like the one for polio, thanks to the March of Dimes.
The World Health Organization recently came into focus again with a successful remedy for the Ebola virus in Africa.
Economy plays a role even now in populations without. However the axiom you can’t buy back your health when lost still resonates.

Editors Note: The hat in the featured picture looks like the one that belonged to an old retired nurse that pushed a cart about town for along time. It rests on the walk by the Royal Bank on the corner of Quilchena and Garcia, a poetic link to the relationship of money and health. The nurse is not noted about for a while yet we think she is ok. The wind gets a lot of hats in March Merritt.
On this day: April 7th 1967
Film critic Roger Ebert makes his first film review published in the Times.

Tags: Public health

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Budget day

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Debates, Education, elections, Environment, Government Works, immigration, Politics and Politicians, Public health, Religion, Technology, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

March 22, 2016

Dan Albas MP
Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola
Photo: KDG

Budget from an opposition side of the house…

An action plan is the same as a budget it just expresses the activity in dollars and cents.

The first action plan of a strongly mandated new government comes down today, expressed in dollars and cents the closing of some offices and the change of direction discussed in the recent election including…..

Refugees

Pot

Deficit funding

Infrastructure spending

Global warming intervention

ETC:

On this day: March 22 1987

Born: murdered environmentalist Jairo Moro Sandoval.

Tags: Budget

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Summer Range

Filed under: Barns and Old Buildings, Enterprize, Environment, Space by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

March 17, 2016

Cattle on the ranch at Merritt BC

File photo KDG

Beef cattle get moved about from summer and winter range. Being fed all winter on the ranch then being moved up to higher pastures to graze on what nature provides makes an economy that we all have a stake in ( except Vegans).
Most range access by road is controlled by metal grated cattle guards in this area however it is good to close any barbed wire fence after use if one is still in service.
There are a number of feed lots here in the Merritt area. The lots function all year long, they are used for dairy cattle that are being matured to two years before being moved to the lower mainland for milk production.

Herd laws make farmers liable for loss of stock not kept behind fences, there can be failure in fences, however collisions with livestock are less frequent now.

On this Day: March 17th 2013

The largest meteorite ever observed hitting the moon lands on its backside.

Tags: Cattle

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99.9 cents a liter

Filed under: Environment, Recreational Vehicles, Technology, Tourists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

March 15, 2016

This is a long way from a gas pump
File Photo: KDG

The local Petro Canada station on the corner on Nicola and Voght is offering regular gasoline at 99.9 cents a liter. The price dropped from a $1.02.9 last week and has bridged the psychological barrier of a dollar a liter once again. In earlier weeks it had dropped below 90 cents.
The CBC is reporting that it looked into price increases on long weekends and found something under 20 occurrences which is not unusual for the system of refining. There were other price drops to long weekends.
Canadian Tire suffered a seven figure fine for price fixing between May and November 2007. The combines people usually use real estate zoning to encourage completion in big box stores!
Gas buddy: This service says that the prices are rising and BC is at $1.06.9 with national well under at 92.9.

There is a summer driving season that is about to the college year and summer hours this usually has an effect on prices it will be interesting to see if it is in effect this summer with gluts reflected in bank accounts of producers. (Or did they fix that with grocery prices)
Editors Note: We believe that the refiner capacity is more responsible for the lag in gas prices dropping in relation to crude prices. No one wants one in their back yard. This may be good as it prevents dumping to a degree. Politically dumped production harms consumers in the long run and predatory pricing will do in competition that make prices stable.

Canadian tire fined the Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/canadian-tire-pleads-guilty-in-gas-price-fixing-scheme/article534996/
On this day: March 15th 1906

Rolls Royce LTD is incorporated in England.

Tags: Gasoline

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TGIF- Daylight savings time

Filed under: Environment, Recreational Vehicles, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

March 11, 2016

Sunday morning on the 13th is daylight saving time once again. Clocks change at 2 in the morning.

Daylight saving time (DST) or summer time is the practice of advancing clocks during summer months by one hour so that in the evening daylight is experienced an hour longer, while sacrificing normal sunrise times. Typically, regions with summer time adjust clocks forward one hour close to the start of spring and adjust them backward in the autumn to standard time. ^[1] source Wikipedia.

An extra hour coming up for Rodders, this one was out trying earlier in the week. Photo KDG

DST was first proposed in 1895 by New Zealander, George Hudson. The global warming and energy crisis have made it more desirable over time.

On this day: March 11th 1932
Booming Ben the last Heath Hen is seen for the last time.

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Sign of spring call for input nuisance control

Filed under: Environment, Public health, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

March 2, 2016

Notice of an application of herbicide,applicator said it included mosquito resolve. File Photo: KDG

File Photo: KDG

There is an advertised opportunity for input into mosquito /nuisance control coming up.
Lower Nicola:
Place Lower Nicola Hall,382 Aberdeen Road
Day: March 7th 2016
Time 6:30 to 8:30, presentation 7:00 to 7:30
Place: Nicola Lake Area, Quilchena Hotel highway 5A
Day: March 8th 2016
Time 6:30 to 8:30 Presentation 7:00 to 7:30
The open house and presentation is hosted by the TNRD Thompson Nicola Regional District.

File Photo: KDG

Helicopters doing work can be an overhead hazard, applying spray from above.
File photo KDG

On this Day: March 2nd 1995
Researchers at Fermi Lab discover the Top Quark.

Tags: herbicides, TNRD

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Antarctic visit

Filed under: Environment, Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

March 1, 2016

Alan Burger has returned to Merritt from a trip to Antarctica. The Nicola Naturalist President will present at the local community college on Thursday March 10th at 7:PM.

NNS President Alan Burger regularly goes to the Antarctic as a naturalist/lecturer on small adventure-tourism vessels. In 2015 he completed a 31-day voyage from New Zealand to the Ross Sea – the deep south – and along the West Antarctic coast. He visited many areas where people seldom go. In January-February 2016 he was in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia. Global climate change is affecting the Antarctic and its wildlife but sometimes in unexpected ways. Enjoy many photos of wildlife and spectacular scenery.

Alan has recently taken on the executive of the Provincial Naturalists organization.
The lecture theater allows no food or drink, There is free parking in the College Parking lot, at 4155 Belshaw avenue at the top of the hill.
Membership or donation requested.

On this Day, March 1st 2002

An Earth Observation Satellite for environmental purposes reaches orbit. Envisat is a the largest environmental satellite put in orbit and is operated by the European Space Agency.

Tags: naturlists

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TGIF- Spill drill

Filed under: Environment, Industrial projects, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

February 19, 2016

Fire crew returning from Slave Lake fire in Alberta

File Photo KDG

There were some Kinder Morgan people this week looking for locations to do a spill drill for May.” we are looking for a location for a command area for about a hundred and fifty people” and were not sure where on the line to have the drill yet.
With maps draped across the back of a white pickup box in the Arena parking lot. The three planners were receptive to the suggestion that the airport had a Fire base forestry training center and the local search and rescue kept a mobile command vehicle there. “They are involved in this: Search and Rescue.

Pig catcher for pipeline, .File photo KDG

Editors note: The existing pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby runs by the North end of the local airstrip now and has a good safety record. ” we found some spills with our smart pig in the past. The device found anomalies in the pipe and we found moistened soil when we responded to it”

The company has an application before the National Energy Board at this time that has been delayed by the incoming government by a further 6 months.

There is no confirmation that any drill has been planned at this writing. There is however a call for the other pipeline in the area. The call is for contractors to supply work on Spectra Energy’s Natural Gas line (existing). The info meeting is on February 24th, and is advertised in the Merritt Herald.

On this Day: February 19th 2006
A methane explosion in Mexican coal mine kills 65.

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Street sweeper

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February 18, 2016

Beet juice and salt in solution for ice in Merritt BC

File photo KDG

The city street sweeper was out this week on Granite avenue. .They do an initial sweep that takes most of the winter gravel off the road and then a 3 day a week program till the next winter. ” if it snows and sticks again this year we will use the beet juice solution.”
Watch Nicola Avenue as it is a highway and may be on a different schedule then city streets.
Glass shops can do a circle cut of a rock chip to save you a crack in your windshield.

On this day: February 18th 1979
Snow falls on the Sahara Desert in Southern Algeria for the first time on record.

Tags: street cleaners

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Kiosk for education

Filed under: Environment, Government Works, Sports and Leisure, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

January 7, 2016

Broken sign no contract….File Photo KDG

There is a kiosk at a sensitive grasslands area here in Merritt. It is dedicated to a local, Laurie Guichion , a rancher and the former chair of the Nicola Valley Community Round table. Laurie lost his life in a motorcycle accident years ago, however his legacy remains as the grasslands he loved is somewhat guarded by the awareness to the sensitive area. The published information isat the kiosk at the entrance of the Lundbom Lake grasslands area at he top of Hamilton Hill leaving Merritt on the connector east of town.
The Trans Mountain Pipeline company owned by Kinder Morgan is reporting that another such facility is installed through a contribution to a Kamloops social action group.

The project was completed on a sunny day in early October. Constructed off-site, the structure transported to the Lac Du Bois Grasslands in two parts. KBRA volunteers worked to prepare the site by digging two holes to hold the kiosk posts. Once on-site, the kiosk frame was pieced together, placed in the holes and reinforced with concrete footings. After placing a roof on the structure, the map panel was incorporated.

The Kamloops Bike Riders Association has placed it at the head of its Lac Du Bois trail.
It is said to give awareness of the combined value of recreation and grasslands sensitivity and the ability to co exist.
Trans mountain is nearing the end of a process to get permission to twin its 60 year old line to Edmonton that passes north east of Merritt’s airstrip.

Editors note: Trans Mountain has operated here for 60 years without any serious trouble we think that the twinning will bring scrutiny to the aging infrastructure here producing a net security benefit.

http://www.transmountain.com/updates/lac-du-bois-grasslands-trailhead-kiosk-successfully-installed?utm_source=Trans+Mountain+Today+December+31&utm_campaign=TM+Today+12%2F31%2F15&utm_medium=email

On this Day: January 7th 1990

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public for safety concerns

Tags: Trans mountain

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Snow persisting

Filed under: Environment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

January 5, 2016

Snow staying in Merritt
Photo KDG

A high pressure system bringing calm and cool weather to the Nicola Valley is producing snow the persists here. For the first time in decades we will have snow that builds and needs removal. The city worked at night to plow snow into the center of streets to truck it out of the core of the city.
Snow removal can be a burden to local government budgets, especially in places like Moscow. We have escaped this to a good degree for years as warming fronts usually followed snow falls.
The two week forecast sees below freezing highs giving more then a month of snow pack.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merritt,_British_Columbia

On this Day: January 5th 1892