PIONEER DAYS AT SUNNYBROOK FARM MUSEUM
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CANADA WINS FIBA GOLD
Red Deer Advocate MONDAY, AUG. 17, 2015
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Clouds can’t dampen spirits at Fiestaval BUT RAIN KEEPS LATIN FEST FROM REACHING POTENTIAL BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF Uncooperative weather hindered Red Deer’s Fiestaval from showing its true colours. For the second year in a row, rain has thinned attendance at the Festival Latino now in its sixth year. Organizer Christian Greiffenstein said there was plenty of online support, including 3,000 Facebook likes, for the event in the days leading up to Saturday. Local hype was also building. But then the rains came, which left the beer garden empty and few dozen spectators huddled under building overhangs and umbrellas early Saturday afternoon. “We haven’t really seen how much we can grow,” said Greiffenstein. There was no denying the enthusiasm of vendors, volunteers, entertainers, food tuck operators and spectators. Anna Dolorier came from Calgary with her business El Dorado Treasurers, selling brightly coloured fashion items and finger puppets from Peru. This was her third year in Red Deer and enjoyed the first two visits. “That’s why I keep coming back.” She was philosophical about the weather and her sales. “This is business. Sometimes it’s a lot, sometimes it’s less.” Dolorier, who immigrated to Canada from Peru 10 years ago, said part of the reason she comes is to support the Latin community and its events. She will be at Calgary’s Fiestaval later this month. Bearj and Ashley Melanson just missed out on the sausages at the Red Deer Public Market and happened across Fiestaval on their quest for lunch. It was a stroke of luck for the selfconfessed foodies, who got their first tastes of arracheras at the booth run by Red Deer’s Salvadoran Canadian Association.
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Photos by PAUL COWLEY/Advocate staff
ABOVE: A little rain didn’t stop the Mariachi Internacional Sol Azteca band at Red Deer’s Fiestaval downtown on Saturday. Latin-themed music was played all day at the sixth year of the festival, which also featured plenty of food and other vendors. RIGHT: Anna Dolorier, of Calgary’s El Dorado Treasures, was one of the vendors at Red Deer’s Fiestaval on Saturday. From Peru originally, Dolorier shows off some of the finger puppets she imports from her former home.
Invasive species kept out of local lakes INSPECTIONS, INFORMATION KEEPING ZEBRA AND QUAGGA MUSSELS AWAY BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF Boating season got off to a worrying start in May when zebra mussels were discovered on a boat at Sylvan Lake Sunbreaker’s Cove. Though it appears that is as close as Central Alberta came to seeing the unwanted invasive species introduced into area lakes. Alberta Environment and Parks spokesperson Charity Wallace said zebra or quagga mussels — a similar threat— were found on 10 boats so far this season. But all were caught at four border crossings into the province where mandatory inspections have been in place. “In Central Alberta, specifically, it’s just been the one find,” said Wallace. “We’ve been catching them before they get any further in.” Roving inspection teams have been holding regular information sessions and checks at provincial boat launches all summer and have not found any problems. Roving crews have been targeting Sylvan, Gull, Buffalo, Buck, Pine and Pigeon Lakes. It’s a reassuring sign that the province’s stepped-up vigilance for invasive species seems to be working. “Every step we take is a positive step and we haven’t found any in the waters yet. “There’s always the threat of something coming in. We do the best we can
WEATHER Sunny. High 21. Low 9.
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File photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Paul Waters Edge Marina at Sylvan Lake. at the inspection stations before they get in close to a lake.” Besides boat inspections, the Alberta Environmental Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting Agency and Alberta Agriculture have been testing water bodies for mussels and a plant invasive species known as Eurasian watermilfoil. So far, they have all been coming up
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clean. Quagga and zebra mussels move from lake to lake by attaching themselves to boats and other recreational equipment. Quagga mussels found in the Colorado River system in the U.S. are of particular concern because it is a popular destination for Alberta snowbirds. Zebra mussels were discovered in Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba in
An Alberta Environment and Parks aquatic invasive species inspector holds up an example of quagga mussels or zebra mussels. Alberta Environment and Parks set up the boat inspection station at the Sunbreaker Cove boat launch at Sylvan Lake. October 2013. The mussels have been a huge problem in the Great Lakes where they have clogged up water intake pipes and done millions of dollars in damage. pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com
Brazilians take to the streets Demonstration were held across the country Sunday by anti-government protesters decrying corruption, Story on PAGE D3
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