Tag Archive: Merritt


Nicola Naturalist Society

Filed under: Environment, Fauna, Fish, Flora, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 8, 2014

The local Naturalists had there AGM on September 18th, they reported 63 members after its 4th Year of operation. they have a schedule of monthly meetings in the non summer part of what they do. Speakers included Bruce Archibald ( Fossils of the BC interior),Richard Doucette, ( mine reclamation) Barbara Pryce ( nature conservancy of Canada) and they reported others. The group had outings over the year including the Christmas bird count, Spius Creek Hatchery, and many frogging outings. They had two nature presentation in elementary schools by members. They report their website as having 5 50 visits on average per month, http://www.nicolanaturalists.ca/ .They report a healthy balance sheet with a three fold increase in income over last year to $14,119.11 after paying $11,259.62 in expenses they had a net income of 2,859.49. The club has a balance of $6,936.02 in cash and $4,310.26 in assets, with outstanding liabilities of 75 dollars in cheques to clear, and 1500 dollars in liability to BC nature. they report 15 dollars in petty cash reserve. Directors for 2014/15: Alan Burger Norm Hanson D. Kerridge Anne Pang Chris Lepsol Margret Carlson

The next meeting is on October 16th 2014 with Doreen Olson on the Similkameen Natural park proposal, the presentation starts at 7:00 in the NVIT Lecture Theater

Today in history, October 8th 1904 The Canadian City of Edmonton Alberta is incorporated.

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Fire Protection Week

Filed under: Fire and Flood, Government Works, Social Activism, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 7, 2014

The local fire men were in front of the downtown community policing office with an information table on Monday. They were promoting National Fire Prevention week. One of the fire fighters when asked about a national statistic said that 50 percent of people who die in fires did not have a smoke detector. He said that people should have them and make sure they are in working condition.The young man thought that the average live of a smoke detector is 10 years; ” they don”t always chirp when that batteries are low” he cautioned.

The man in response to the question are fires in beds and couches are caused by smoking he replied< "they are down as less people smoke" National Fire Protection Week is coordinated between Canada and the US and always occurs in the week that October 9th is in. this year it is October 5th through 11th, however it should never end.

Today in history: October 7th 1987
Jeremy Brockie, New Zealand , footballer born

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TGIF-Pacific Forest Rally

Filed under: -Photography, Cars, Environment, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 3, 2014

Every fall  there is a sports car rally in the Nicola Valley,The Pacific Forest Rally is the 4th stop on the national tour and is on October 3rd and 4th this year.Tenty eight competitors are featured in the rally guide and will compete for place and time beginning in a ceremonial start at 5:30 PM on Friday October 3rd, on Granite avenue downtown Merritt.
The rally has an offical charity, The Abilitas Foundation.
Best vantage points:
Lily lake, night special,815-830 PM, Friday October 3rd.


 

Today in History:October 3rd 1955
The Mickey Mouse club has its debut.

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Tims in tents

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Restaurants, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 30, 2014

The local coffee watering hole Tim Hortons has two large tents in its parking lot. The Barista at the Starbucks across the highway says that they are to be there for 6 weeks while Tims undergoes a renovation. The drive through is going to be open for the renovation however tents are there to accommodate sit down patrons.
Weather or not this is a global warming support remains to be seen, the schedule puts it into the second week of November and a time that we here at 2000 feet above sea level get our first snow.

 

Today in history: September 30th 1955

Movie star James Dean dies in a road accident at the age of 24.

 

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School days

Filed under: Academics, Collective bargaining, Education by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 24, 2014

Graduation parade, school district 58 file photo KDG

Graduation parade, school district 58
file photo KDG

The school system seems back to normal today with young people walking to the local high school and noon hour parading for lunch across Coutlee Avenue and on.
School district 58 includes Merritt, Lower Nicola, the Nicola Valley, and Princeton a small community an hour to the west of Merritt. Richie Gage a trustee says that there are over 3000 students in the system here.

Today in history: September 26th 1969
Abby Road the last Beatles album is released.

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Corn

Filed under: Barns and Old Buildings, Environment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 23, 2014

Corn grown in the Nicola Valley Photo KDG

Corn grown in the Nicola Valley
Photo KDG


The Nicola Valley has a marginal climate for growing anything other than grass and alfalfa, however the new owners of the river ranch ( the ranch on the Nicola River in the center of town) have a field of cow corn
The ranch is being leased by its local owners to diary interests from the lower mainland and have a number of feedlots. The feedlots confine and feed dairy cows for their first two years and then are taken to the coast for milk production.

Today in history, September 23,1999

The National , Aeronautics  and Space Administration says that it lost communication with its Martian climate orbiter.

 

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Speed limits

Filed under: Government Works, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 3, 2014

Hurray up and wait, there is pressure on speed limits to go up in the province, the province paper is reporting that school zones are going from 30 KM to %0 KM per hour in some places. The Coquihalla highway in BC has just had its maximum limit go from 110 to 120 KMs per hour, this is on par with divide freeways elsewhere we are told. modern vehicles and road construction particularly freeways do lend themselves to faster speeds. However there are still some wreaks on the roads and some drivers that may be a problem.
Decades ago the united states brought in a nation wide 55 miles per hr to combat fuel shortage that seems to have gone by the boards. Perhaps Electric vehicles and hybrids are pushing the issue. We say drive at a speed that is safe for the conditions at all time.

Today in history: September 3rd 1997

A Vietnamese air liner , a Russian built Tu-134 crash’s on approach to the airstrip at Phnom Pen, resulting in 64 deaths.

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Civic Election

Filed under: Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 13, 2014
previous elections and those that vie for power: file photo KDG

previous elections and those that vie for power:
file photo KDG

The Civic election is November 15th 2014,there are usually 6 councillors and one mayor up for election, although there was talk of having a split term there appears no change for positions at the City Government.
To be a candidate there are few qualifications,

There are various disclosers and rules for financing a civic campaign,it may be more that a novice can take on. However every person should have the opportunity to have their voice and perspective be in the voting bar of a civic council. good luck.

New this election is the term length of 4 years, it may be a precursor to split terms after 2018.
The old municipal act once said that to run you could not be in a contention with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (an incentive to drop.) This is no longer expressed.
There are also 3 positions on School district 58 on the ballot.
The construction of the Tolko co gen and the 130 KV line are going to be in full swing at election time, vote.
Candidates packages are available August 22, through city hall, non resident property owners may also qualify for candidacy, however there seems to be a 30 day actual residency in Merritt. In the past the Tolko mill manager lived in Kamloops and held a seat on Merritt City Council.

Today in history: August 13 1918
Women are welcomed into the United States Marine corps for the first time,

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Chargeing station getting use

Filed under: Cars, Climate, Enterprize, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 15, 2014
Nissan Leaf, gets Dc quick charge in Merritt Sunday July 13th/14 Photo KDG

Nissan Leaf, gets DC quick charge in Merritt Sunday July 13th/14
Photo KD

The owner and operator of this EV says that he gets a hundred and 10 kilometers on a 1/2 hour charge at the DC quick charge station. The charge is free now but he expects that to change soon. Then a trip like the one from Merritt to Kamloops will cost him about 6 dollars at a quick charge station and a dollar and a half if he charges up over night at home on 120 volts.

He showed us a card that he said came from BC hydro that would allow him to pay for power at the DC charger. BC hydro has a serious amount of PR going into EVs right now with incentives for buying coming up and a 500 dollar rebate for a dedicated charger in your home. http://www.bchydro.com/news/conservation/2011/charge__electric_vehicles.html

 

 

Today in history: July 15th 2006

Twitter is, operational and goes on to be the largest Social Media platform in the world.

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Taxes 10 percent penalty

Filed under: Government Works, Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 3, 2014

Penalty

Merritt BC was incorporated in 1911, local business collect and remit a lot of taxes to keep a City running. Photo KDG

Merritt BC was incorporated in 1911, local business collect and remit a lot of taxes to keep a City running.
Photo KDG

July the 2nd was the last day for 2013 tax’s to be paid to keep you current, with the city starting today there is a 10 percent penalty added to the bill. After three years of non payment your property will go on the Tax sale list and will be offered for sale for the back tax’s. There is a further redemption period after a tax sale so it is only a done deal when the tax sale is set aside  by your redemption of  a current state.

There was a steady stream of people paying tax’s at the city hall yesterday morning. If you have a mortgage on your property most often your taxes are in your mortgage payment calculation and are paid by the mortgage holder. this arrangement keeps most properties out of tax tardiness.

Today in history: July 3rd 1884

Dow and Jones publish their first stock average.

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Happy Canada Day

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Sports and Leisure by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 1, 2014

Happy Canada Day, to you and yours from The Proprietor Review

 

The flag the flies atop the hill entering Merritt from the west hyway 8, it is kept by the ready mix company that owns the land and gravel pit.

The flag the flies atop the hill entering Merritt from the west hyway 8, it is kept by the ready mix company that owns the land and gravel pit.

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John Hendersons Tesla

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Sports and Leisure, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
May 28, 2014

The 2010 Tesla sport car  that was brought into Canada as a first by John Henderson was here getting a EV charge on the weekend. The bright orange car with black bold lettering covering the sides was at the charging station on Voght, near the Merritt City hall. And in the parking lot used by the Farmers market on Saturdays ( watch EV users as Saturday may be hard to have access to the chargers), there are others on Mamet. The roadster was delivered to Canada May 13th 2010. The 2700 lb car has a maximum  range 350, 288 HP.

The sports car is not in production and went out to make way for the model S, ( $75,000) the model S has four ranges and battery options and is a family style sedan. The car needs to be preordered.

Other manufacturers include Chevy Volt, Toyota Leaf, Sun country auto PU that have been seen passing through and using the charging stations here.

Source information posted on the car being offered for sale.

The 500 Amp DC quick charger may not always be available here , there are adapter issues with the Tesla S, however the 90 amp and 30 amp chargers at the city public parking lot are without complaint.

Today in history: May 28th 2011

Malta votes on the issue of divorce.

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