Historical military vehicles being displayed in Merritt.
File photo KDG
All roads lead to peace but for how long….
On this Day: November 13th 1982
The Vietnam War ( American war if your from Southeast Asia) memorial is opened after a march of vets.
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Thursday the 19th will see Chris Gill present Guns, Traps, and Poisons to the regular monthly meeting held at the lecture theater at the local community college on Belshaw avenue in Merritt.
Islands support fragile ecosystems and are the nesting sites for huge numbers of seabirds. Invasive alien species, such as rats, are one of the greatest threats to these sensitive locations. Chris Gill is a wildlife biologist from Salmon Arm and the founder of Coastal Conservation. He has been working for 15 years on island restoration in Haida Gwaii, BC where invasive rats, raccoon s and deer are a major threat. In 2014 Chris received the prestigious Parks Canada CEO Award of Excellence for the Night Birds Returning program – recognizing his excellent work in restoring breeding populations of birds on these islands. An important conservation success story.
Presentations start at &:PM membership or donation requested, no food or drinks in the theater.
On this day November 12th 1990
A proposal for a World Wide Web is published.
Historical Military vehicles
File photo KDG
Have a good remembrance day… From the Proprietor Review.
On this day: November 11th 1918
An armistice is signed ending combat in the great war.
Diversity makes for a broader community.
File photo KDG
We have a password protected page that has some pictures of community activities from about 2012. We think that it demonstrates a bend toward theater so we are sharing the current password today for your enjoyment.
Merritt is in the process of building a 5 million dollar Community theater and we think the pictures build a context of a possible support for Community Theater.
https://kevingriffiths.wordpress.com/topical-images/z-series-community-pictures/ Password : Community Theater
On this day: November 10th 1983
Bill Gates introduces Windows 1.0
Telus making its presence known in Merritt.
Photo KDG
The Telus bunch working all over this city had a meeting and discussed what they were doing and what to tell people because ” people are asking”. so today one of them said a letter is going out to everyone in town explaining the upgrade. they are also handing out brochures that show that they are bring direct fiber to households, so that you can be “digital right to your digital device” with out analog lines being used to slow speeds down.
They also promote Netflix through Optic to bring thousands of movies to your digital device. They say downloading a full music item will be 5 minutes.
There is information at: telus.com/merritt.
The websites promises 90 percent of Merritt to had 150 Mbp/per second of speed.
Editors note: When it says MBp/s that is Megabytes per second when the b is small it is Megabits . There are 8 bits to a byte. Mega-Bytes is faster service.
On this Day: November 6th 1947
Meet the press debuts on TV.
Heinz Lange big onion windmill.
Photo KDG
No its not a horror movie rather its a friend from the past. The onion was and invention of Heinz Lange here in Merritt and a version of it powered a warning light on the hillside leaving Merritt to the north and approaching the airstrip for decades.
A source with the city says that it is Murphy Shewchuck behind it’s construction it is being placed at the entrance to the Kinsman Park on Voght street and a plaque stand is in place ready to receive some acknowledgement.
Murphy Shewchuck is a retired BC Hydro employee and a free-lance writer and photographer. He has written several books on Merritt history and its trails and attractions. He also is published in outdoors magazines. He is a member of the Nicola Naturalists and a principal at the local museum and archives.
http://www.murphyshewchuk.com/guidebooks/
Heinz Lange was a high school shop teacher passed away decades ago after a long a productive career here. He immigrated from Germany after the second world war after being on the side not prevailing as a test pilot for the Messerschmitt jet aircraft. Many of us remember him fondly as a teacher who cared and was energetic and positive. His windmill was also deployed in tests to aerate lakes in the area. He is said to have gotten a patent for his invention in the United States.
Reconciliation was his and many others aim here in the Nicola Valley.
On this Day: November 5th 1943
WW 11 the Vatican is attacked from the air.
We will see if some accounts of 100 megabits per second will stand, for now here is some info on broadband applications we think is accurate. One thing for sure there is a lot of utilities activities in the small central interior City of Merritt.
The upgrade and stitching of Telus fiber optics is in full charge. A line worker said that this community is lucky as we will have the highest speed internet available. “Good for Netflix, digital to the home”. Telus is also installing some new poles on Garcia Street, often phone lines are shared on Hydro poles and are the lower lines about 2 meters lower then power lines.
Below are the Internet download speed recommendations per stream for playing movies and TV shows through Netflix.
•0.5 Megabits per second – Required broadband connection speed
•1.5 Megabits per second – Recommended broadband connection speed
•3.0 Megabits per second – Recommended for SD quality
•5.0 Megabits per second – Recommended for HD quality
•25 Megabits per second – Recommended for Ultra HD quality, source: Netflix
HD Video QualityMovies and TV shows that are available in high definition will play in 720p or better with a fast enough Internet connection. To watch Netflix in HD, ensure you have an HD plan, then set your video quality setting to High in the Playback Settings for your account.
A source says Telus is providing 7MB/s now and is going to 100 Megs/a second:
stichers on the site maintain it is the highest TELUS will offer meaning 10 megs or 1000 bites a second
What Internet Speeds Are Available?
While there are many rural communities that cannot even reach the 2 Mb/s speed, more of the larger cities, suburbs and urban areas have speeds available of 10 Mb/s and above. It is not limited to broadband/cable internet. In some cases internet speeds nearing 20 Mb/s from a DSL internet connection may be available.
The workers on the project puff the value of the work but it appears that an improvement is coming to this small rural community that will give the choice to those that may want it , higher speeds to watch in particular Netflix films in better definitions. Modems are a concern when matching performance to what is offered. Buyer Beware.
Editors note: David Calloway writes a good explanation of Broadband speeds here:
http://broadband.about.com/od/speedissues/a/Broadband-Speeds-Explained.htm
On this Day: November 4th 1822
Howard Carter finds the Tomb of King Tut.
Not all poles are equal
File Photo KDG
When it comes it can be something to manage
file photo KDG
The Nicola Valley has its first snow fall of the year Sunday and Monday. There was no snow at the city level it could be seen on the mountains to the west.
Most snow removal by individuals is clearance of driveways and walkways. After heavy snowfalls, snow may be removed from roofs to reduce the risk of structural damage due to the weight.
In places with light snow, brooms or other light instruments can be used to brush off snow from walks and other surfaces. In regions with more precipitation, snow is commonly removed with snow shovels, a large lightweight shovel used to push snow and lift it, and snow scoops or sleigh shovels, a large and deep hopper-like implement fitted with a wide handle and designed to scoop up a load of snow and slide it on any slippery surface to another location without lifting. Other tools include snow pushers and shovels with one or more wheels.
Shovelling entails a considerable amount of physical effort and can strain the back and the heart. Each year many senior citizens and middle aged persons die from heart attacks while shovelling snow: source Wikipedia
On this Day: November 3rd 1817
The Bank of Montreal begins business in Montreal Canada.
Trick or Treatment
Wear reflective clothing stay safe this weekend.
On this Day: October 30th 1947
The General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs comes about.
Telus fiber stiching portal in use this week, a source says can stitch cable. File photo KDG
There are Telus trucks as well as their subcontractors all over this small central city. A source says they are upgrading the fiber system to give faster internet service (choice you have to pay for it). The source says that all residential areas are getting the upgrade. It is said to be to 100 megs of of capacity.
The company has a storage facility from a local company Secure all storage on Midday valley Road, indicating the scope of the upgrade.
Fiber optics were brought into Merritt in the 1900s 911 service followed shortly after.
On this Day: October 29th 1964
Murf the Smurf makes off with the star of India gem from the American Museum of Natural History.
Large logging trucks
need industrial facility’s as they can not be parked in residential
areas.
File Photo KDG
A fire on Monday evening destroyed 6 cider block shops in the industrial park off Nicola Avenue, behind the Kal Tire building. The buildings were owned by Cool and Quiet, muffler and radiator. Cool and Quiet also have a business location off Wilcox Avenue on Coldwater road the area is popular with artisans who combine business with residence on the mainly 10 acre parcels of land in that area.
Sources say that the business Borderline Trucking that rented two of the bays may have been the center of the fire. Wayne Richardson said that they got a call in the evening at Kal Tire from authorities wondering were the trouble was soon after the fire consumed the building ” quickly”. A local artisan equipment operator Kelly Smyth on site Tuesday evening said no one knows what happened in reference to renters and adherents.
The buildings were built by local entrepreneur Hans Kruse in the 1970’s and was the center of his trucking business. HK trucking hauled between Merritt and the shipping terminals in Vancouver and was center of the benefit of the deregulation of trucking and the demise of the Canadian Pacific rail line to Merritt, in that time period and beyond.
Hans Kruse is the father of professional hockey player Paul Kruse a product of the local minor hockey programs and the Merritt Centennials junior club. The Merritt Centennials are the longest running franchise in the BCJHL. with over 40 years of producing young people for life and hockey.
Hans Kruse lives in an assisted living home, Nicola Meadows on Garcia street in Merritt.
There remains another six units and the office building in the complex.
On this day: October 28th 1835
The United tribes of New Zealand are sealed by signing of the Declaration of Independence
The Nicola Valley hosted the provincial premier Christy Clark as she opened a construction project that added to the local community college.
Local first nations peoples including Lower Nicola Band Chief Aaron Sam were among those that witnessed the ceremonial ribbon cutting .
A hosted luncheon followed and was part of a general open house. Local retired person Joe Geil was taken by the lay out and expressed admiration for the “green house room for retreats and conference between individuals on the top floor of the college. The facility has a commanding view of the Nicola Valley facing the south east. The school is called Eagles Perch Campus and is one of two aboriginal focused campus’s in the province.
The premier answered questions about emails and there retention by officials.
On this day: October 27th 312
One of two Roman Emperors , Constantine has his vision of the cross.
Kevin Griffiths
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