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TGIF-Bug spraying, over head aircraft

Helicopters doing work can be an overhead hazard File photo KDG

Helicopters doing work can be an overhead hazard
File photo KDG

 

A helicopter was seen over the nature preserve off Blackwell Avenue , the Nicola River and Dr. Simons hay field. The aircraft was carrying an application bucket. Fields are sprayed for mosquito larva at this time of year.
The preserve has a large mature eagles nest on it the rotors of the bell 206 came within an estimate 100 of the nest.

Mosquito-control operations are targeted against three different problems:
1.Nuisance mosquitoes bother people around homes or in parks and recreational areas;
2.Economically important mosquitoes reduce real estate values, adversely affect tourism and related business interests, or negatively impact livestock or poultry production;
3.Public health is the focus when mosquitoes are vectors, or transmitters, of infectious disease.

: source Wikipedia

Helicopter drop buckets are also used in fire fighting and Merritt hosts a training center for summer crews to qualify for the suppression crews.

Creatures of the  forests such as eagles and even household pets fall victim to the expedience of emergencies, but a cavalier attitude should never be allowed to develop. In particular in practice situations.

On this Day: May 6th 1997

The Bank of England becomes separate from the British Government.

Europe Day

These young men were from Eastern Europe and were going across Canada, observing freedom of movement. File Photo KDG

These young men were from Eastern Europe and were going across Canada, observing freedom of movement.
File Photo KDG

On this Day: May 5th 1964
The Council of Europe makes May 5th, Europe Day.
( May 9th for the European Union)

Since 2003, Ukraine celebrates Europe Day on the third Saturday of May

Interior Salish Piece

Kathy at the Old Courthouse Galley says that this piece of art is Interior Salish First Nations and is a little uncommon as most art is Northwest Coast, First Nations in BC. The piece is being kept at the Gallery, on Nicola Avenue.
The Gallery is having a showing of 10 local artists starting Saturday including
three with international renown. Pious Chong, Arnold Mosley and others. The show runs from Friday the 6th to the end of May. Gallery times are three days a week Thursday through Saturday afternoons.
The show is to remember local “master” artist Dianne Kiernan would passed away to cancer recently. Dianne maintained one of the historical homes in the 1800 block of Granite Avenue, a half block from the gallery. she was an established artist in Vancouver but spent summers here.
Saturday the 7th of May sees the artist reception. The Merritt Courthouse Gallery is at 1840 Nicola Avenue in Merritt. :http://www.nvartscouncil.com/

On this Day: May 4rth 1953
The Old Man and the Sea wins Earnest Hemingway a Pulitzer Prize.

Nicola Avenue upgrade

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Water and sewer File photo KDG

Water and sewer
File photo KDG

The city works foreman was walking up Nicola Avenue with blueprints under his arm on Monday. The city is starting a needed upgrade of the infrastructure in the Nicola Avenue. The road is highway 8 or 97C and a funding arrangement was made with the provincial highways branch to pay for the upgrade. local residents will be affected by signage and construction as well as the Old Court House Gallery and the Love to Dance studio.
Merritt is progressive in water and discharge pipe upgrades and summer rarely goes with out a project.

On this day: May 3rd 2000

The sport of geocaching begins using GPS markers.

Fish pond, backyard File photo KDG

Fish pond, backyard
File photo KDG

If you have the luxury of a back yard here’s a carbon sink you may want to try.

Professor Downing found that constructed ponds and lakes on farmland in the United States bury carbon at a much higher rate than expected; as much as 20-50 times the rate at which trees trap carbon. In addition, ponds were found to take up carbon at a higher rate than larger lakes.

“Aquatic ecosystems play a disproportionately large role in the global carbon budget,” Downing said. “Despite being overlooked in the past, it’s small bodies of water that are important because they take up carbon at a high rate and there are more of them than previously thought. The combined effect is that farm ponds could be burying as much carbon as the world’s oceans, each year.” source Science Daily…Iowa State University

Editors note: consult with your insurance agent before hand.

On this Day: April 29th 1997
The chemical weapons ban of 1993 comes into force.

Fish

Last week the Spius Creek Fish Hatchery and Fisheries and oceans unloaded 170 thousand juvenile fish into the Nicola River at the golf course. They are the produce of about fifty pair of mature fish.

There is much interest in supplementing exploited stocks of fish by releasing juveniles that may be wild caught and reared in nurseries before transplanting, or produced solely within a hatchery.[4] Culture of finfish larvae has been utilised extensively in the United States in stock enhancement efforts to replenish natural populations.[5] The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have established a National Fish Hatchery System to support the conservation of native fish species.[6]

source Wikipedia.

Editor’s note  The Fish on the bank was thrown there by a fishing black bear on the Nicola River. PP

On this Day: April 28th 1932

A vaccine for yellow fever is announced.

 

Darling Buds of May

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Shakespeare for more than 400 years has been eternal in respect to mood and movement of feeling. The sonnet that has the Darling Buds of May reference still resonates even here an ocean away from England and Stratford on Avon.
The buds are breaking out all over to seemingly meet the Bards deadline here in the South Central, Interior City OF Merritt. More or less on time….

On this Day: April 27th 1810
Beethoven composes Fur Elise

Tesla and breakfast…

A Tesla S, 85 charges up at Merritt, with an adapter to a DC 500 Volt 120 amp Quick charger, Aug /14 File Photo KDG

A Tesla S, 85 charges up at Merritt, with an adapter to a DC 500 Volt 120 amp Quick charger, Aug /14
File Photo KDG


Al from Westbank was using the AC charger at the charging station on Voght here in Merritt on Sunday. A retired man and his wife he made the trip over to have breakfast at the Cold eater hotel. He was happy with the 400 thousand advanced orders that Tesla Corporation had taken on their new affordable model car. When asked why he bough this Model S 85 with the 500 K range he said he opened a Prius before and it seemed like a reasonable transition. I go to Arizona every year and like the Electronics for direction Al said. He leased the car to keep the initial price down including the 10 percent luxury consumption tax.
Growth, Coldwater hotel dome and flag Photo KDG

Growth, Coldwater hotel dome and flag
Photo KDG

 

On this Day: April 26th 1956

The world first successful container-ship goes into service.

TGIF-Earth Day

April 20th 2016 in the shade at Merritt Downtown 30 Celsius-3 degrees over recored record of 27.1 Photo KDG

April 20th 2016
In the shade at Merritt downtown 30 Celsius-3 degrees over record of 27.1
Photo KDG

Beautiful spring day felt like summer on 4/20. Heat fell back the next day rain expected on weekend. St Johns Newfoundland had snow on the 4/20.

The moon was full on 4/21, there will be another in 28 days near the start of the Canadian long weekend in May. Frost is sometimes associated  with the moon cycle.

 

On this day: April 22th 1970

Earth Day is  made an observance by the environmental lobby.

Countdown to earth day; 21st-22! EV

A Tesla S File Photo KDG Photo: KDG

A Tesla S
File Photo KDG
Photo: KDG

Mark from Osoyoos was at the Voght street quick charger on the weekend. He sais he was going to Hope for a tesla meet at the hope quick(Tesla provided) charger. He said that his charge here in Merritt cost him about 20 dollars. The rate was at 35 cents a kilowatt hour. A disabled man in an electric cart came by and Mark answered his question about cost ” you would pay 10 cents a kilowatt hour charging your cart at home as would I if I used household power to charge my 2010 Tesla S.”
Mark also related pleasure that 30 Quick chargers have been added in BC including some in the Princeton area. The Voght street quick charger next to the Downtown Tourist Info Center ( the Baillie House) is in the Green lots system its network number is 33013, it sits next to a 90 amp AC charger (70 continuous). The area has restricted parking for EVs.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/new?hl=en

On this day: April 21 1615 /
The Wignacourt aqueduct is inaugurated in Malta.

TGIF- Happy Erath Day April 22/ 2018

ground hog

File Photo KDG

Earth Day April 22 2018. Since 1970  concern for pollution and limited resources are observed.

On this Day: April 20th 1653

Oliver Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament.

This Cactus is pollinated by flies it smells like rotting flash KDG file photo

This cactus is pollinated by flies. It smells like rotting flesh
KDG file photo

On this Day: April 20th 1534 /
Jacques Cartier begins his first voyage to what is no Eastern Canada.