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New Sign

Filed under: Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment
June 17, 2013

Today there is a new sign at the bike park to the west of the RCMP station on Voght street here in Merritt BC ,CA. The sign calls the park ” Rotary Bike Park” and there is a partnering organization with it on the sign: Merritt Mountain Bike association is in black and white with a descriptive logo.City crews are at work cutting grass and neatning the small park with its bike jumps and challenge circuit.

Rotary International is a organization that was started by an American, Paul Harris. They rotated meeting places from house to house. There are two clubs in Merritt.

Today in history: June 17.1885

The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbour.

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The week in pictures 6/15/13

Filed under: -Photography, Arts and Culture, Enterprize, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 15, 2013
Voght park good for model flying
Show and shine coming File photo KDG
Voght street Office of a local mine benifiting from new Hydro infrastructure. File Photo KDG
Bev Veale
KIm of the VVA
Hobbies are a good way to relax from pressure ,good landings as well. File photo KDG

Today in History: June 15,2008

The Lehman brothers file for bankruptcy triggering the 2008 financial crisis.

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TGIF

Filed under: Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 14, 2013
Merit of Merritt

Its good that it is friday….

Car show the local classic car bunch are having a show Sunday June 28th at central park, ( next to  the ball parks and police station on Voght Street. There is a strong club here for the size of the community including the local building inspector who was involved in the Mission raceway project years ago.

Today in History: June 14,1967

The Peoples Republic of China tests its first Hydrogen Bomb.

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CF100

Filed under: Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 13, 2013

There is an airplane at the Princeton Airstrip about 100 kilometers from us in Merritt. It is a CF100 starfighter from the 1950s  it saw service in the Korean conflict.  The plane had the nickname ” the lead sled “.  It is up on a pedestal and bears the number 420.

The United States made a number of these aircraft available to Canada after it canceled it s own Avro Arrow program.

A local was noted for flying his over his home town of Merritt and braking the sound barrier as a hello to his fellows.

Diagrams and paintings of the Avro Arrow craft show up at antique outlets from time to time here. The company  A.V. roe was organized in Canada in 1945. Its links to  the UK and successes such as the Lancaster bomber the B25 Mitchell  made for a considerable fondness for the old world and its way of doing things.

Princeton BC Canada is a colorful resource town on the Similkameen River and a historic haunt of the Train Robber Bill Miner at the beginning of the 20th century.

It hosts Racing Days ( 45 years of horse racing this year) at the end of July and is in close to the Cascade Mountain range.

http://www.princeton.ca/

Today in History: June 13,1898

The Yukon Territory is established with Dawson as its Capital.

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Learn to fish

Filed under: Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 12, 2013

Highland Valley Copper, the huge copper mine that employs 1100 union and 300 staff about 50 minutes from here has opened a community relations office across from the post office on Vought street and the corner of Granite avenue. The Community affairs and environmental team cosits of 11 people at the mine with 2 -3 of them available at the Merritt office. HVC is going trough a major expansion and upgrade of the mill and its buildings.

Mariena Anderson, one of those staffing the office talked of the openness of the mine and said that public tours are available all summer for those that come to the security building at the mine,on tour days.  there is also a learn to fish event coming up in September which is for 16 years and under. A full day including lunch will see instruction in Fly fishing and a catch and release experience in the Trojan pond. The Trojan is the reclaimed water from the Highland Valley milling process that is stocked with fish. Kate Garthwaite is the contact on the team for registration. There is at least one member of the team available monday through friday. Feed back: HVC.Feedback@teck.com , ph1 250 523-2443

Today in History: June 12, 1776

The Virgina declaration of rights adopted.

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New books at the library

Filed under: Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 11, 2013

There is a published book order for June at the local library. Every month about 25 books are brought in for lending and a published lsit available on the counter to place holds on.

A sample of this months is : A Step of Faith ,Evans Richard Paul, Let the Dead Sleep,Graham Heather, Something Wicked,Lisa Jackson.

Of the three randomly picked books two we were able to secure 1st hold on one (Let the Dead Sleep) 5th in the Q.

The books are applied at various times during the order month.

Today in History: June 11, 2013

Timothy McVeigh put to death for the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

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Graduation

Filed under: Academics by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 10, 2013

Scides  the distant education center, and the Kengard learning center at the Kengard School at the end of Merritt Avenue graduated 42 young people here in Merritt.

The program had a quote on the last page from Diaraku Ikeda ” While it is important to win, it’s even more important to remain undefeated no matter what happens.”

To those that are undefeated and and grads Kudos:

N. Anders-Valdiva, W. Brown, B Christainson, D Clarke,

L Cresswell, A Dennis, B Fletcher, A Granberg, D Green,

D Hagel, L Harland, J Harpe, P Johnson, N Jylha, P Johnson,

N Morton, J Nemeth, J Smith, M Smith,M Smith, L Turner, J Veronneau.

D Allen, M Brynojolfson, D Collier, M Dasilva, A Dawson, J Fell, A Greenaway,

J Harder, S Hefer, K Hopkins, E Karlson, B Manke, J Miller, B Mizen, A Patterson,

C Steele, C Sitryd, R Tancsa, W Thompson, A Welch.

Congrats from the Proprietor Review.

 

Today in history: June 10th 2013

Tax Freedom day in Canada, the day that people are working for themselves: Source: The Fraser Institute. (EN: finished paying for their government services).

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The week in pictures 6/8/13

Filed under: Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 7, 2013
Low fire rating
Art show
Large logging trucks
Large logging trucks need industrial facility’s as they can not be parked in residential areas. File Photo KDG
Suicide and violence warning in PU window

Today in History: June 7, 1992

World ocean day is celebrated for the first time.

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TGIF

Filed under: Arts and Culture by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
Merit of Merritt

Its good that it is friday….

The Valley visual artists are having an exhibition at the courthouse gallery this month. The show runs from June 1st to the 29th. The Non profit has 15 members and the showing is limited to members. The artist reception is tonight June 7th from 6-8 PM

The Old Court House Gallery is on Nicola Avenue in the center of the 1800 block.

Today in History: June 7,1995

The Boeing 777 long-range passenger jet enters service.

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In rememberance: 1944 D day.

Filed under: Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — 2 Comments
June 6, 2013

Nelson Atkinson was a friend of mine  although a generation ahead I had some good times with him as he lived out his life after surviving the D day Normandy landing and its further push to the end of the Second world war. He had a logging truck here after the war for a time and hauled logs in a single axle Mac truck for Nicola Valley sawmills ( now Tolko industries.) later he was the maintenance man at the memorial arena. His wife worked for Ted Taylor another veteran and the local jeweler that sold me my rings for my marriage.

All these people thought that  they were lucky to be alive .

Nelson said that he was fond of turning up his collar on his Battle Dress tunic , when challenged by the Sergent ” that’s not regulation ” he replied ” who are we fighting here sarge the Nazis or what” . To be sure the man drove an ammunition truck across the mulberry, man-made harbour at Juno beach in 1944 but he raised an important question. “who are we fighting” as in all conflict it is not as simple as an apparent enemy as the fight is also about defining your values and what you will live for.

Nelson had a name sake. A man with the same first and last name, but Canon Nelson Atkinson was the priest at the local St Michael’s church on Chapman street and Granite ave. He was also the last commander of the local Mortar platoon support company, of the Rocky Mountain Rangers, here in town. The unit was cut and the armoury sold to a local service organization for a dollar in the 1070’s; so they are both gone. However the definition of what we are remains in part by those imputs and will go on in the mighty tension of time .

Cheers to what we are and who we fight  and its results that will affect us all.

Today in History: June 6,1985

The buried body of Wolfgang Gerhard is discovered to be that of Josef Mengele ” The angel of death” of the Nazis concentration camp system.

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5000 dollar advantage

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Social Activism, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 5, 2013

According to the BC Hydro newsletter the program that rebates 5000 dollars on the purchase of a clean energy vehicle is extended. As well a rebate to install a quicker charger at your home then the 120 volt charger that is readily available is extended as well. the news letter is available at the link below.

http://www.bchydro.com/news/unplug_this_blog/2013/clean-energy-vehicle-rebates.html?WT.mc_id=c-13-06_ev

There are plans for up to 600 public charging stations across BC by 2016 with 41 in place or planned now.

Editors note; it’s not clear whether 30 minute quick chargers at commercial operations are subject to rebates, we would think that those operations would start to feel a demand for them and since publicly advertised operations are subject to more scrutiny for safety that they may come under a regulation regime.

There are 4/ 2 hour quick chargers here in Merritt BC at unadvertised locations however they can be on smart phone apps.

Today in History: June 5th 1915

Denmark amends its constitution giving women’s suffrage.

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Lumber for plainning

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Technology, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — 4 Comments
June 4, 2013

The Ardew mill site has some activity on it this week .Lumber cut at its new owners Aspen Planners Ltd is being piled for planning at the site. A source says that although the Ardew milling operation was not automated they had a good planner.

Aspen planners cut lumber for their mill on Quilchena Avenue and plane it at the old Weyerhaeuser mill site which they also own and use exclusively for planning.

modernization and consolidation of operations have dramatically reduced the amount of workers employed here at local mills.

The old Ardew site remains bare of logs. ardew wood products was a family operation that employed about 60 people.

Today in History: June 4, 1975

California gives farm workers collective bargaining rights.

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