THURSDAY JULY 30, 2015
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Vol. 120, Issue 118
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Fruitvale musician on stage at The Gorge
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Local businesses go live with Google support Downtown Trail Business Group working together to attract tourists BY VALERIE ROSSI Times Staff
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
Jim Clarkson from the city's public works was on site Wednesday, breaking up a section of asphalt on the east side of the Trail Memorial Centre. Repairs to the river wall and guard rail are underway now until Aug. 8.
Vehicle access around TMC halted during river wall repairs BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
The crumbling river wall on the east side of the Trail Memorial Centre is under repair for the next few weeks. So anyone needing a drop off by car in the building's front entrance won't be able to do so for the duration of the project, which is expected to be completed Aug. 8. Vehicle access is a no go, but those on foot can follow a delineated path around the facility's perimeter. All motorists and pedestrians are asked to take caution when driving or walking near the area, explained Andrea Jolly, the city's communication coordinator. “Please obey all posted information,” she added, referring to information signage about temporary lane and sidewalk closures, posted speed limits and idle reduction notices. City crews were on site Wednesday, tearing up asphalt along the approximately 60-foot section of the infrastructure project that once complete, includes installation of a new guard rail. The repairs being undertaken were included in the 2015 capital budget for a total cost of $52,000.
“The project is being undertaken now to limit any disruption to the arena given that ice will be going in shortly,” said David Perehudoff, Trail's chief administrative officer. “The current repair has been identified for some time and will involve replacing the concrete cap and handrail. In addition it will provide better protection of the fibre optic line that runs in this location.” A separate river wall repair further south along the Esplanade near the Fortis building, is slated to begin this fall. Trail council allotted $30,000 from surplus after an isolated area was identified during the city's annual maintenance inspection a few years ago. A concrete fracture and degraded cement became clearly visible following the creation of an unobstructed shoreline in 2013. The large crack is at the control joint from a previous repair completed in 1969 following a historic flooding of the Trail Creek. While the risk to public safety is deemed low, repairs are considered a high priority this year and expected to be completed this fall when Columbia River levels are low.
The Trail tradition of pasta and meatballs has traveled far and wide by visitors who still get hungry thinking about the Colander and its popular special. The endless platters of spaghetti and meatballs, chicken and jojos, crusty buns and salad is enough to bring someone back. But now there is a virtual tour available for those who've only ever heard of the experience. You just have to Google it. The Google Business Photos and View Virtual Project saw to 57 businesses — the Colander included — and organizations in the Lower Columbia developing an online presence. Virtual tours, still photography, a Google landing page, and a listing with Kootenay Rockies Tourism was included in the $44,000 project. “This was the perfect way to kickstart a regional tourism project, as we can now use this info on other websites, as well as increase the visibility of our local businesses online,” explained Deanne Steven of Tourism Rossland. Steven coordinated the project, which was paid for by Community Directed Funds (administered by the Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society) and Kootenay Rockies Tourism. Views4Business sent Google certified photographers to the Kootenay-Rockies region this month to shoot footage of businesses with streetstyle and indoor 360-degree views. Virtual tours already live also include Birchbank Golf Course, Country Roads General Store, and Columbia Gardens Winery. “When I want to go somewhere, I research the heck out of it, and I think a lot of people do,” said Steven.”This allows people to really get a sense of what they're going to do before they go and also to lure them to our area. I think there is a lot that we can do to improve our online presence as a Greater Trail region.” This is not the first time Steven has pushed for a larger online footprint. Two years ago, she secured funding to do the same with Rossland just shortly after she met Views4Business at a trade show. “We (Rossland) became the most Googlephoto toured community in the world per capita,” she said. Now she's expanding that scope with high hopes for the rest of the Lower Columbia – Warfield, Trail, Fruitvale and Montrose – because she believes working together will keep visitors See TOURISM, Page 3
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN866-897-0678 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242
Supporting our community West Kootenay Brain Injury Association Support for Survivors and their Caregivers in the community. Visit their store every Thursday at Waneta Plaza beside Crockett Books to view the artistic endeavours of their clients
Canada Post, Contract number 42068012
Free kids playroom and ball pit
www.wanetaplaza.com
5 min. east of Trail on Hwy 3B