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TGIF – Christmas parade

Coat of arms of City of Merritt

Coat of arms of City of Merritt (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The people of Merritt are having their kick off parade for the Christmas season to-night. all the merchants will be open for the parade with specials and advertised incentives in the local weekly newspaper.

The small community of Merritt puts a lot of effort into the evening and it shows a lot of coöperation and commitment as it generally very succesful.

The construction company Sanders and Company provided a 30 foot pine tree for the center of Spirit square and it was decorated and ready last evening . Overnight vandals tore the lights off and attempted to remove the tree from spirit square. At 8:AM this morning to city workers were well on with the task of repairing the damage. The tree was up and lights were being restored. The pair was confident about it being ready for the after dark parade and open house of the downtown core of Merritt.

Today in history: November 29th 1919

Joe Welder ,Canadian American bodybuilder born.

Curling rink facelift

A worker for a contractor installs aluminium soffit material to the local curling club in Merritt BC

A worker for a contractor installs aluminium soffit material to the local curling club in Merritt BC

The local curling rink and club house is receiving a bit of a facelift. Soffit and face covering is changeling slightly the style of the 3/4 century old building.

Today in history: November 28th 1814

The times of London is first printed by powered presses making newspapers available to masses.

 

Weights and Measures Canada

manitence contractors also test for weighs and measures say a source

Maintenance contractors also test for weights and measures say a source

Ever wonder if you are getting what you pay for at the gas pump? Yesterday the Petro Canada station at the top of the hill was half roped off and being worked by technicians from Protec petroleum services 1.888.799.7987. One of the two workers when asked said he was doing regular maintenance of the pumps. When asked if weights and measures do the meter testing he said ” we do that for them every two years we test 20 liters to see if the pumps are accurate.” Here is the context:

Effective January 1, 2007, initial inspections of scales, gasoline dispensers and other types of measurement systems used in any trade sector, must be acquired from Measurement Canada authorized service providers. In cases where there are fewer than two authorized service providers, capable of providing the type of inspection service required, in the province in which the measurement system is to be inspected, Measurement Canada will continue to provide the service. For initial inspections required outside of the provinces (i.e. Northwest Territories), Measurement Canada will only provide the service if there are fewer than two authorized service providers in the adjoining provinces who typically provide these types of services in these locations.

Authorized service providers may be accredited or registered by Measurement Canada. A list of Accredited Service Providers and a list of Registered Service Providers can be found on Measurement Canada’s internet site. The scope of the inspection services which can be provided by registered organizations is directly linked to trade sector review recommendations and may have some limitations. These same limitations do not necessarily apply to accredited organizations.

The use of Measurement Canada authorized service providers to provide initial inspection services is in keeping with our commitment to focus Measurement Canada resources on establishing rules and requirements related to measurement, investigating occurrences of suspected inaccurate measurement, and monitoring the performance of authorized service providers and of the marketplace. Authorized service providers will increasingly do inspections on Measurement Canada’s behalf.

The Government of Canada and this ministry will also take up complaints and not only gas pumps but firewood , electric and gas meters, retail scales and others.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/mc-mc.nsf/eng/h_lm00007.html

Editors note: Health Canada has the people responsible for wireless radation from meters.

Today in history: November 27th 2001

A hydrogen atmosphere is discovered on Osiris and extra solar planet, by the Hubble space telescope.

1000 dollars

Craft swap Merritt Public library 1691 Garcia in Merritt BC CA

Craft swap Merritt Public library 1691 Garcia in Merritt BC CA

Today is the last day to enter the Merritt public libraries Christmas draw.  The contest is a draw for a 1000 dollars and a 100 dollar secondary prize based on the quality of the submission. To enter just document a positive experience you had with the library system in 5 lines or more and submit it by email to the contest sponsor the Merritt Friends of the Library at their email address FOLmerritt@shaw.ca.

You must include your name, phone, and library card number in the email. Do not send attachments. contest closes at midnight tonight pst.

The public libray is also putting out contact cards on  “Have your say on digital services in BC , they have a website www.gov.bc.ca/digitalservices.

Today in history: November 26th 2003

The Concord makes its last flight.

UFC Boxing Fitness training

Personal Training at a Gym - Boxing Category:F...

Personal Training at a Gym – Boxing Category:Fitness_training Category:Personal_training (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is a UFC boxing and fitness training offered  at the Lower Nicola band school some evenings.

A source says that a relative takes it up and it is a martial art.

Lower Nicola is a small unincorporated satellite community west of  Merritt BC.

There is a call number:  Vancouver, Pauline 604 355 5960

There are some decent videos on the Swagbucks website for health and fitness including Tai chi. You can earn swag bucks while watching Michelle at Apex fitness, and others. A swagbuck is digital currency about a cent each .

Today in history: November 25th 1963

JFK is buried in Arlington National cemetery

TGIF- one cent a liter

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Its good that it is friday….

The Petro Canada at the junction of highway 5 , 97c and eight is showing a drop in price by a cent to $1.26 a liter.

Editors note:There is a summer driving season that puts pressure on fuel prices. Winter road conditions may put serious  downward pressure on demand and use of highways.

Today in history: November 22 1987

A  pirate dressed as Max Headroom hijacks two Chicago television stations.

NVIT, visiting speakers series

Dr.Eugene Atleo speaks to staff members and interested public at the NVIT lecture theater, Wednesday November 20th. Re- member

Dr.Eugene Atleo speaks to staff members and interested public at the NVIT lecture theater, Wednesday November 20th. Re- member

Last evening the School NVIT  had a speaker from the lower mainland, of BC. Dr. Eugene Richard Atleo,a chief of the Abbotsford first nations band and the father Shawn Atleo of the Grand chief of the national expression of first nations.

Dr. Atleo is a hereditary chief of  the Ahousaht First Nation and was the first  to earn a doctorate among First Nations people.    Dr. Atleo’s main message is that the cooperative life is sustainable and that dominate life is not. He took ownership of the cooperative life style as being Aboriginal and traditional.

Today in history: November 21st 1953

The Piltdown Man Skull is declared a hoax the the British Natural Museum.

Winter

The temperature is dropping to about -11 c today with serious snow on the ground here in Merritt at our 600 odd meter home. It feels homey and there is less traffic.

When we quipped to Everett Spahan that he was dressed like he had just come out of the Mongolian Step he affirmed the metaphor and posed for this picture.

Everett Spahan in the empty lot that borders coopers in Merritt BC.  First cold day of winter.

Everett Spahan in the empty lot that borders Coopers in Merritt BC. First cold day of winter.

Up date: at 7:30 this morning the temperature was -18 with the windchill.

Today in history: November 20th 1917

The Ukraine is declared a republic.

Antarticia, the key wildlife paradise

Merritt, British Columbia

Merritt, British Columbia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alan Burger the president of the local Nicola naturalist Society is presenting at the Thursday meeting of the Society.

Alan is from South Africa and was a teacher at the University of Victoria in British Columbia he is now a Merritt resident.

Burger regularly works as a lecturer naturalist on Eco tourism ships in both polar caps.

The presentation is on Thursday, November 21 at 7:00 PM in the NVIT lecture theater, no food or drinks there is free parking, and membership or donation requested.

Today in History: November 19th 1863

Abraham Lincoln delivers his Gettysburg Address calling for the preservation of the equality of man under law.

TGIF-Missing

A patrol car used by the RCMP  Photo KDG

A patrol car used by the RCMP
Photo KDG

Dean Morrison has been unaccounted for since October 22. Dean in his forties , a father of 3 was involved in the campaign leading to the defeat of incumbent MLA Harry Lali in the last provincial election as a campaign worker. Was a former editor of the local newspaper and recently employed at the Stump Lake Ranch. A source says that the RCMP have finished the investigation without leads to where or what state he is in.

His family  has a history of going missing and his mother is reported by the Kamloops daily news as feeling that he is still alive.

Today in history: November 15th 1889

Brazil becomes a republic.

Tota

There was a presentation of the Thompson Okanogan Tourist Association at the civic center, this week. About twenty people took the session in including Merritt’s Mayor Susan Roline, Councilor Clara Norguard, Councilor Kurt Christopherson.

The presentation outlines “what might happen here in Merritt in tourism” Merritt Councilor Kurt Christopherson”

Sandy Curnew the manager of the Downtown Tourist Info center was also in attendance.

The presenter outlined a need that tourism needs to have a continuity  province to province.

The local Tourist association has their AGM Thursday..

331

Today in history: November 14th 1770

James Bruce discovers  what he believes to be the source of the Nile river.

Country Christmas

Christmas in the post-War United States

Christmas in the post-War United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Merritt is a very active place here after November 27th the countdown to Christmas starts then and a parade and midnight madness event starts it off. The local FM station has contests for home town shopping, and merchants try to establish their business success for the next year around the season. The local library is offering a 1000 dollars  in a contest that ends on November 26th.  The efforts that go into Christmas here are exceptional and sometimes quite heart warming.

The digital money company swag bucks are offering a Christmas preview sale for online shopping that ends on November 26th 20% off and 8 swag bucks ( 8 cents or eight percent) for every dollar spent on-line at Macy’s. The good will of the season is out there and is a significant value even for those involved in Christmas selling.

Q 101 is offering a draw for 1500 dollars in a home town shopping spree, ending December 9th..

The scenery can be very homey with snow-covered hills and a hush of the past looking to a new year.

http://www.venturevancouver.com/merritt-country-music-capital-of-canada

Peace on earth good will to mankind;  without argument.

For those needing hope the season is quite under girding and lasting.

Today in history: November 13th 1901

The 1901 Caister lifeboat disaster.