Category: Vegtable soup


Run off

Friday March 12th saw road closure on Garcia St
Photo KDG

Flood control in the Nicola Valley saw the levels rise and lower with the controlled spilling of the dam on Nicola Lake and rainfall.

The green pointer on Voght street was back over the weekend indicating drought or ground level is normal once again. The rivers had been closed to fishing two years ago because of low water levels, rains on thanksgiving weekend in 2016 started a marked increase  in water content in the valley culminating in some more activities in management this spring.

Ground saturation is obvious.
The regional district have waived tipping fees for flood damaged debris and property, supplying a phone number is required.

On this Day: may 16th 1770
The marriage of 14 year old Marie Antoinette to 15 year old Louis-Auguste.

The Nicola Naturalists meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month. The speaker this month is Joanne Hale. Hale will present on the habitat adaption by Spade Toads on disturbed land.

Jo-Anne Hales is a professional agrologist and the Environmental Specialist for the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc. She is also completing a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science at Thompson Rivers University studying the Great Basin Spadefoot (an amphibian species at risk) on the New Gold – New Afton Mine site. Come and hear about these charismatic little critters.

Programs start at 7 PM in the local college lecture theater, top of the hill on Belshaw avenue in Merritt. No food or drink allowed in the lecture theater. Membership in the Society or donations is requested. Draw for donated prizes go toward scholarship at school.

The Nicola naturalists are a not for profit with an ecological responsible conversation. They have a pronounced interest in migratory birds.

On this Day: May 11th 1792

Captain Robert Gray becomes the first documented European to sail the Columbia River.

 

 

old court house

The old court house on Nicola avenue , in Merritt.
File Photo
Photo KDG


The Arts Council and the Old Court House Gallery are having a show for May. Running Thursdays through Saturdays until June 3rd it is featuring landscapes. The artist reception is Saturday May 6th 4-6pm.
The Old Courthouse Gallery is at 1840 Nicola Avenue, in Merritt, hours are afternoons.
On this Day: May 5th 1905

Finger print evidence is used to get a murder conviction for the first time.

 

 

 

May the fourth be with you!

Charging station gives options.
File Photo KDG

On this Day: May 4rth 2011

The fourth of May is made Star Wars Day.

 

Otter

DSC_3709 (7)

No its not the Ogopogo it was a fast moving energetic River Otter, in the Nicola river last week.

otter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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North American river otter
LutraCanadensis fullres.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus: Lontra
Species: L. canadensis
Binomial name
Lontra canadensis
(Schreber, 1777)
Subspecies
see text
LontraCanadensisMap.svg
Synonyms
Lutra canadensis

The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. An adult river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur.

The river otter, a member of the subfamily Lutrinae in the weasel family (Mustelidae), is equally versatile in the water and on land. It establishes a burrow close to the water’s edge in river, lake, swamp, coastal shoreline, tidal flat, or estuary ecosystems. The den typically has many tunnel openings, one of which generally allows the otter to enter and exit the body of water. Female otters give birth in these underground burrows, producing litters of one to six young.

North American river otters, like most predators, prey upon the most readily accessible species. Fish is a favored food among the otters, but they also consume various amphibians (such as salamanders and frogs[2]), freshwater clams, mussels, snails, small turtles and crayfish. Instances of river otters eating small mammals and occasionally birds have been reported as well.

 

On this Day: April 25th 1959

The Saint Lawrence Seaway  better opens Canada to the Atlantic Ocean.

TGIF- enjoy the weekend

moon rising 5/6/12

On this Day: April 14th 1986
Hailstones weighing over 2 lbs fall in Bangladesh killing 92.

Happy Easter

Crocus flowers
File photo KDG

The forecast here in Merritt at 700 meters is for near 20 C for Sunday. Resurrection tulips are pulling hard…
On this day: April 13th 1997
Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters.

TGIF- election

Nicola Avenue Merritt lit up for after pavement and traffic island redo.

The writ has not dropped yet however there is an Elections BC office on Voght St. here in Merritt across from the Credit Union.

The Incumbent Jackie Tegart has an election office in the Rail Yard Mall, her constituency office remains the same at 2152 Quilchena avenue. Harry Lali is nominated for the NDP.
The Writ period is 50 days,( usual ) . The writ day is April 11th according to elections BC. April 18th is the last day to register as a candidate. The General vote is May 9th. making the writ period 19days in April and 9 days in May . That makes for 28 days of campaigning.

On this Day: April 7th 1906

Mount Vesuvius erupts destroying Naples Italy.

Food security

 

Symbols are a funny thing, sometimes used to reinforce power there gets to be a hand behind them. Sometimes random events bring symbols together  and there is a feeling that they need interpretation  so that our conscious minds ( if only that )can attempt action.

On Saturday last I noticed a new beaver swimming in the Nicola River here in Merritt it was headed downstream to the foot bridge area behind the Merritt Desert Inn. There it had a 4 inch in circumference root peeled back about six feet and protruding over the flow of water. There it was laying about a foot above the river on the stripped white wood, seemingly relaxed.

It looked so relaxed in its perch you would think it was a nesting bird.

The thought  struck me that the fact that his plate was secure made him feel more secure and happy. An affinity  began to develop and a distant memory of a time I was fishing through the Ice with a preschool youngster who was much taken by the small fish we were pulling through the ice with corn as bait. He abandoned his desire to see fish pulled through the ice when ne appeared with the yellow corn kernel outside its mouth. ” Ah he was just hungry” and that was it for our fish gathering that day.

Food security is a common need, according to councillors  its one of the three that need to be filled before social abilities are fully useful. The hundred KG gold Canadian coin taken from the museum in Germany on the weekend was an interesting symbol with the queen on the front I wonder if it was a Nickel Coin with our national symbol the beaver on it, and what that symbol means to those over there?

Canadian Beaver
File Photo KDG

Peace and security to you and yours.

On this Day: March 28th 1920

 

TGIF- Those that are at a distance.

Andrea Rogers quilt hangs in the city hall foyer File Photo KDG

Andrea Rogers a long time resident from Merritt came here from post war Holland in 1948 and lived in the historic down town core with her husband a liberator of the Dutch and a veteran.

Andrea went to Kamloops for assisted living and to be near her sister a few years ago, she taught piano and was an enthusiastic artist gardener and community supporter.

 

On this Day: March 17th 1992

A referendum to end Apart ide in South Africa carries by nearly 70 percent of the vote.
( 2.8 million cast votes for 85 percent of registered voters)

Butterflies

Visitor to the Nicola Valley
Ran a program with youth
File Photo KDG

Butterflies have  a following  in the Nicola Valley.

The Nicola Naturalists are having their March meeting on Thursday the 16th  . The speaker will be local Bob Scafe and will present butterflies and Moths of the Nicola Valley.

Bob is an active member of the Nicola Naturalists, a keen photographer and a very enthusiastic investigator of  butterflies and moths. Bob’s presentation on this topic was very popular so we’re getting him back with new photos and new information on these colorful insects. Bob’s documentation of our local butterflies and moths is a popular feature of the Nicola Naturalist Society website – .. Come and see great photos and learn about these interesting members of the Nicola Valley area fauna.

Start  time is 7PM at the  NVIT lecture hall, top of the hill Belshaw  Ave. in Merritt BC. Membership or donation requested

On this Day: March 15th 1892

The Liverpool Fo0tball Club is established.

TGIF- Time change

Google mapping car computer driven clocks atomatically change
File Photo KDG

The time changes on Sunday, March 12th at two AM in the morning, you don’t need to be up to change your clocks…. Spring ahead Fall back!

Editors note; check your settings in your devices and be aware of clocks that are not automatic…

On this Day: March 10th 1947

Born Kim Campbell, first women Prime Minister of Canada.