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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Your source for weekly news and views in the Robson Valley
Locals honoured for brave rescue Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com Pilot Dale Brady of ValeThe air was thin, which mount and rescue techni- can affect the perforcian Steve Blake of Jasper mance of the helicopter, will be awarded Medals of Brady says, who’s been Bravery by the Governor flying helicopters for General for braving thin nearly 20 years. air and severe winds in a “We were lucky enough helicopter rescue of two to have the machine that climbers on Mount Rob- we did.” son two years ago. Above the clouds it was a The hazardous rescue was clear blue sky. But at the the highest they had ever peak, the two hikers had performed been roiled at 12,000 “They said they felt that in storms feet, near that day was their last,” for the past the peak week. They Steve Blake, on the resof Mount had been out R o b s o n , cue of two climbers on for almost Mt. Robson in 2008 three weeks which is h i g h e r and had spent than all the seven days on peaks in Jasper National the summit without food Park. and weathering severe It was the highest res- storms. cue Blake had ever done, “They said they felt that and he does roughly 20 that day was their last,” rescues a year for Parks Blake says. “The one Canada. guy was not really able to “It was a very quick function any more.” rescue, but very intense,” Since the helicopter Blake says. “It was a seri- couldn’t land, Blake lowous undertaking.” ered himself on a sling. Low-lying fog and trou- But after he clipped to blesome clouds made it both climbers, one of the difficult to navigate to the climbers fell off a perch location. Luckily there and the rope twisted was an opening in the around some ice. The clouds, which enabled helicopter and the three them to shoot up above people on the line were the clouds and work their anchored to the slope. way down to the peak. Cont’ A3
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Volume 1 Issue 9
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Photos: Laura Keil
Erica Innes and her children Sam and Jorja August watch two adult Chinook salmon fight over stream bed territory in Swift Creek just off Hwy 5 in Valemount. The Chinook Salmon have returned to Swift Creek in Valemount. The 1300-kilometre journey is one of the longest made by migratory Chinook anywhere in the world. Only about 25 out of 100 survive the journey up to the headwaters of the Fraser River drainage. The life cycle of the Chinook seen in Swift Creek is 3-4 years. Female Chinook dig nests
Robson Valley winery?
in the gravel bed of the creek, then lay their eggs. Males Chinook then fertilize their eggs by releasing sperm just upstream of the nests. Both adults die once they have completed spawning. The eggs take about 90 days to hatch, and after 18 months of feeding in the creek, juvenile salmon (smolts) swim back to the ocean where they mature into adult salmon only to
return to the very same stream a few years later. The best locations to view the salmon are in Valemount at George Hicks Regional Park near the Valemount Visitor Centre, or at Rearguard Falls on Highway 16, about 10 km south of Mt. Robson. The Valemount visitor information center will be presenting free salmon talks everyday at 7 p.m.
for the remainder of August. The presentation is 30-40 minutes long and visitor centre staff will give detailed information on the salmon and their life-cycle. Visitor Centre staff warn not to harass the salmon, by sttaying out of the creek and keeping dogs on a leash. It is an offense to physically harm Chinook salmon when they are spawning.
Logging vandals strike
A2 Wednesday, August 11 2010
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Robson Valley Music Festival kicks off Aug. 20-22 Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
The Robson Valley Music festival is approaching and organizers are expecting this year to be the biggest yet. Shasara Gustafson says they expect at least 1300 people this year on their one-squarekilometre property in Dunster over the course of the three days. About 40 acts will play. They have more children’s activities like a giant interactive salmon inside of which a storyteller will entertain children. They also hope to build a giant sandbox out of the bow of a pirate ship. Aurora Jane was at the festival two years ago and is back again this year. “It was a magnificent experience,” says the Australian rock fusion and punk artist. “It’s one of my favourite festivals in the world.” “The power of nature in that particular spot is just divine. It’s very soul-cleansing to come to a place like that in combination with such a beautiful welcoming family who put the festival on.” Ugandan artist Kinobe will be coming to the festival for the first time. Gustafson says they are lucky to have them. “I can’t believe they’re coming to Dunster,” she says. “They’re unbelievable.” Kinobe will also be doing traditional Ugandan song and dance workshops. He is currently doing a tour of North America, and Dunster is one of the only Canadian stops. “We’re very excited because we know the type of music we do is unusual for this community and something they’ll not likely have heard before,” Kinobe says. He started into music when he was 7 years old and says he heard music all the time near his home.
Aurora Jane will be playing at the Jasper Legion on Aug. 18 with Jessie Dee & Jacquie B at 8pm - $12 cover charge.
His school was also very involved in teaching folklore music. “The most important thing is the love and joy we’re going to bring,” he says. “We live in Uganda, a world away and we live so much joy with the people there.” This year they will try having a local artisan tent for the first time. Aurora Jane just released an album Deep End, which she recorded in Canada, Australia and India with a new more electric style than her last album. She says the festival is a unique experience. “There’s a great sense of human connection to nature and also sense of community with other like-minded people, even though it’s across the ocean, it’s wonderful to see how similar we are and how many great friendships we can
Submitted photos Ugandan artist Kinobe says he started into music when he was 7 years old and says he heard music all the time near his home. “We’re very excited because we know the type of music we do is unusual for this community and something they’ll not likely have heard before,” he says. He will also be doing traditional Ugandan song and dance workshops during the festival. He is currently doing a tour of North America, and Dunster is one of the only Canadian stops.
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““The power of nature in that particular spot is just divine. It’s very soulcleansing.” Australian artist Aurora Jane
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Road work leaves residents coughing Inch of dust settles on cars, roofs and gardens
Rescue Cont’ from A1
“They said they felt that that day was their last,” Blake says. “The one guy was not really able to function any more.” Since the helicopter couldn’t land, Blake lowered himself on a sling. But after Blake clipped to both climbers, one of the climbers fell of a perch and the rope twisted around some ice. The helicopter and the three people on the line were anchored to the slope face. “This is where the story gets longer,” Blake says. He had a knife in his back pocket, and he managed to cut through the rope which was stuck in the ice while Brady
Robson Valley Weather Wednesday
Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com Residents living along Mountain View Road just outside McBride fought severe dust at the end of July, after road work to seal the gravel road from moisture. “Our health is suffering, our lifestyle has been degraded and there’s danger,” says Dennis King who has lived along the road for three years. Commercial enterprises were notified about the work but residents were not. King says another neighbour with asthma was having a terrible time. It was so bad, no one opened their windows for days, he says. “Now we’re driving in this limited visibility on used gravel and there are some very serious dropoffs along the side of the road,” King says. Jeff Knight of the Ministry of Transportation says the curing process of the seal coat often takes longer in hotter weather,
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which meant the sweeping could not begin until August 5th, 12 days after the road surfacing began. “For any seal-coating project, you’ve got loose dirt and gravel,” Knight says. “We appreciate the patience of everyone while the work is going on.” A loose gravel sign was put on the road, followed later by a 50 km/h sign. But that didn’t prevent an inch of sand from settling on the bumper of one resident’s
car while it was parked in her driveway, about 100 feet from the road. The resident, who did not want to be named because of her work, said she was surprised to learn the sweeping would not occur for two weeks, after she called the Ministry of Transportation. “By that time the traffic will have taken care of most of it,” she says. Knight says the seal coating process extends the life of the road, by ensuring that moisture cannot
Photo: Laura Keil reach the road bed, and cause pot holes or other road damage. He says the seal coating will not need to be replaced for many years. The sweeping is ongoing. King says now that they’ve swept it’s getting better and with the rain the dust hasn’t been a problem. But he still says the work was poorly managed. “Highways should have more control over what’s going on so they don’t create problems for the residents and so they ensure things are done the proper way.”
kept the craft in a hold position. The helicopter then airlifted them out of the area as they hung from the end of the rope on harnesses. The climbers were then transported to hospital. Blake says Brady did a fantastic flying job. Brady insists it’s Blake who took on the bigger risk. “I’m sitting in the helicopter, I’ve got a nice comfortable chair,” Brady says. “It’s the guy on the end of the rope who’s taking on the big risk.” It’s Brady’s second Medal of Bravery. He received his first for an incident in 2000. An airplane crashed into the side of
the hill near Tete-Jaune. Due to bad weather, he flew the search and rescue team over the site and they rappelled down instead of parachuting. He does some half a dozen rescues every year on-call, and he works full-time for Yellowhead Helicopters. He was contacted 2008 as the incident happened before the Parks Canada helicopter contract began. The awards come on the heels of a recent rescue of two climbers on Mount Robson. Blake says for that rescue they were able to land the helicopter right at the site, and no sling rescue was nec-
essary. The climbers were able to trigger a 911 function using a personal locator beacon. “I think we’re in an era now that some form of communication is going to be a standard,” Blake says. But even when travelling with a satellite phone or beacon, he suggests further precautions. “I definitely recommend that you prepare yourself and leave a trip plan with someone who knows where you’re going.” Governor General Michaëlle Jean will award two Stars of Courage and 15 Medals of Brav-
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ery to 17 people at a ceremony to be held at a later date. The Decorations for Bravery were created in 1972 to recognize people who risked their lives to try to save or to protect the lives of others. The Cross of Valour recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril; the Star of Courage recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril; and the Medal of Bravery recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.
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Interim priest eyes community connection Dropping attendance, resources drive churches to reach out
Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com Fewer empty pews and more Part of that is looking at how the community outreach will help to church can work with the comrenew churches, says Anglican munity to foster social programs priest Susan Hutchinson. She has like the Food Bank, a school many ideas when it comes to inbreakfast, or aid to seniors who fusing the church with new spirit. are isolated, for example. Church attendance across the “I work with churches in comcountry has dropped in most remunities not to say ‘All of you gions, leaving many churches have to be Anglicans’ so you can with fewer resources. Hutchinson help do this. It’s ‘We’re the Anglispecializes in helping to connect cans’ and how do we work with the church to the community. the community to meet the com“If you’re doing ministry in munity’s needs?’” the community, you will attract “What that means here, I’m not people,” she says. “If you’re doing sure yet,” she says. something people think is worthWith fewer resources at hand, while and they can fit around many churches are having to rePhoto: Philomena Hughes their lifestyle ... then people get prioritize and diversify to survive. involved.” In 1946, about 67 percent of the adult population atShe has come to the Robson Valley to help the An- tended a religious service every week. By 2001, weekly glican-United shared ministry in McBride and Vale- attendance had dropped to 20 per cent. mount as an intentional interim priest for six months The Anglican and United churches decided to colto help the congregations look at their priorities for the laborate in the Robson Valley and share a priest. These next five years before they invite a permanent priest. cost-cutting measures help to keep congregations go“I’m just a facilitator. I’m not the expert,” says ing, and don’t necessarily impinge on beliefs, HutchinHutchinson, who says intentional interim priests are son says. Anglican and United services alternate weekbecoming more common as congregations often need to-week. time to re-group after a priest or minister leaves. “There’s a lot of co-operation between churches,” she Her role is also to look at how the church can re- says. position itself to attract and maintain more members. Both the Anglican church and United church have
gone through many changes in the past 15 to 20 years, she says, from recognizing their involvement in residential schools to deciding who’s welcome in the church to coping with a lack of resources. “If you feel you can walk in the door whether you’re gay or straight, whether you’re married or not, whether you’ve got three little kids and you’re a single parent, whatever it is ... that fills pews.” On the Anglican Church of Canada and United Church of Canada websites, there are news updates about alleviating world hunger, helping flood victims, and taking action on climate change. Many churches are focussing on community service and global responsibility, she says. But in the end, the choice to attend church is one of personal spirituality. “There are stages in life when people find crisis points, when they’re interested in spirituality. It could be any age.” She says she came back to religion when her mother was diagnosed with leukemia. Her mother was only in her early 50s. Hutchinson was ordained in 2000 in the Diocese of Quebec, served eight years in Gaspe, then Quebec City, then Prince George, then Victoria. While a temporary priest she also does Sunday services, hospital visits, funerals, and weddings, among other regular duties. Comments? lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Kosher on the road
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Orthodox Jews spend Sabbath far from home Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
There’s no temple in Valemount, but it’s Friday night and the Sabbath is approaching. Micah Danziger, 22, is using his kosher knife to chop onions for the stew. The stew will brew all night on low heat. Once night falls, he can’t adjust the stove, because of the Sabbath. For Modern Orthodox Jews like Danziger, the Sabbath, or Shabbat in Hebrew, means a day of rest even when on holidays. Tonight Danziger and his travelling buddy Shay Rubinstein, 24, also from Israel, prepare food and get ready for Shabbat. They are not allowed to switch on electricity for a full day, drive a car, or buy anything. “It’s like we’re Amish for 24 hours,” Danziger says. If he accidentally turns on the light, he can’t turn it off. In the army, he got used to sleeping with the light on, as someone in his barracks would inevitably forget to not use the light switch. In Jewish tradition, Shabbat represents the day God rested after spending six days creating the world. On Friday night, Rubinstein lights a candle and they do a special prayer. Instead of kosher wine and bread, which aren’t available, they use B.C. beer and tortillas. Travelling kosher isn’t easy. The two young men are working and traveling through Canada. Rubinstein has been in Vancouver for a year, working for a company that labels Kosher foods. He points out the foods that are inconspicuously labelled Kosher - a small U, COR, or a capital K each inside a circle. Many of these products look ordinary otherwise. But kosher Jewish people learn to recognize the brands and markings defining whatthey can eat. The dietary rules for strictly observant Jews are complicated. Some foods, however, are
universally kosher - beer and whiskey for example. “There’s lots of products that are kosher,” Danziger says. “We just can’t eat at any restaurants. We can’t eat any fast-food.” Danziger checks an Israeli website on his laptop to see when Shabbat will begin in the Robson Valley: 9:15. The rule is the blessing and meal begin when three stars appear in the sky. “The little things make it holy,” Danziger says. “By keeping these laws, we preserve it as a day of rest.” Danziger just finished his mandatory three years of army service. He met Rubinstein in Vancouver and they decided to travel together. They wanted to see the mountains. They also didn’t want to get too far from civilization because of their dietary restrictions.
Traveling kosher often means improvising. Instead of wine, Micah Danziger and Shay Rubinstein use beer. Instead of bread they use tortillas. “You can do it in a different way,” Rubinstein says. “It isn’t difficult, but it is different from how I do it at home.” They must use their own pots and utensils for cooking as not to contaminate with non-kosher foods. Photos: Laura Keil
Rubinstein says he wanted most to see wildlife of western Canada, but also to see how people live here. He says the food wasn’t his biggest concern when travelling. “I can live on pasta and sauce,” he says, adding there are always ways to maintain Jewish ceremonies even far from home. “You can do it in a different way,” he says. “It isn’t difficult, but it is different from how I do it at home.” Saturday morning, they took a shot of liquor instead of wine before the morning meal. They are essentially vegetarians while away from major centres such as Vancouver. For Danziger that’s a small sacrifice to make. He says the kosher laws are part of the basic principles of Judaism. “One of our main animal instincts is to eat and we believe in Judaism to rise above our animals instincts and be a human. I’m choosing what to eat and not just letting myself be led by
my feelings and my hungers.” “You can’t live on your whims. You have to be able to control yourself – even though bacon really smells good.” On Saturday, they can’t drive anywhere, so they take a walk down 5th Avenue to see if they can see any salmon spawning in Swift Creek. Then they sit on the porch and talk. “We’re no angels,” Danziger says. “Of course we make mistakes, but the point is to repent and continue to be better.” He says it was hard to maintain his religion during his time in the army. He says one of his main goals in coming to Canada was to re-establish himself in his values. Rubinstein says they have a saying that you need to go far away to understand what is nearby. “It changed me and made me feel stronger,” he says. “To find your meaning, you need to go 10,000 km to understand how much it’s worth.”
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Local stakes most northern vinyard
McBride family soon hopes to produce wine Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
In the rolling fields of McBride, stalk upon stalk of wine grapes descend in rows. People sip their Cabernet Sauvignon on a nearby patio and comment on how it tastes much like California wines did long ago. This is the picture Kelly Mortensen has been seeing for over five years. Behind his house on Mountain View Road is the beginning of this dream – five acres of wine grapes, still juvenile plants that don’t yet reach the waist. But he’s waiting. And soon he may be rewarded. Climatologists predict that wine growing regions will shift significantly in the next 50 years. That means where Robson Valley residents harvest hay, they could be reaping Pinot Noir, and the Robson Valley may look more like the Napa Valley. “The Okanagan may end up being too hot and dry,” says Sharon Mortensen, Kelly’s wife. “Climate change is creep-
Photo: Laura Keil
“We`ve had so much support from our friends and people in the community. They came down with shovels and sun hats and they planted and they dug and they planted.” - Sharon Mortensen ing up the world to the poles, and we’re finding the weather here is quite different from even six-eight years ago when we bought our property.” While significantly higher than the Okanagan, the Mortensens say their property has all the elements necessary for growing wine grapes, such as clean water and air. The Mortensens planted their first wine grapes five years ago. This year is the first time the wood of the vines from last year survived the winter chill. It’s progress. And Kelly doesn’t seem phased by the time it’s taking. “This had grapes on this vine,” he says, bending down to examine a green stem. “But they’re gone.” The number of B.C. wineries has tripled in the last 10 years. Most of these are in the Okanagan region of B.C. Growing grapes this far north may eventually be feasible – but there are plenty of unknowns. Mortensen isn’t sure whether the grapes will attract
birds or other predators. “The hardest thing is to get the wood to survive over the winter,” he says. “All of this is this year’s growth,” he says pointing to a vine that goes roughly to his knees. He was first intrigued by an article that ran several years ago in the Globe and Mail that showed the regions of Canada that may open up to wine grape growing due to climate change. The temperature differences monthto-month between McBride and Kelowna are between three and five degrees, with extreme highs and lows very similar. Of the five varieties of grapes they planted, two seem promising. The type of grapes they’re growing don’t yet have a name, just a number. They are also working on a few varieties for ice wine. “They seem to be doing very well,” Sharon says. At nearly 55 degrees latitude, the Mortensens are wine pioneers in Can-
ada. But their project is more than just making generic wine. Their operation is entirely self-sufficient, with their hay fields feeding the horses which provide manure for the vineyard. “There’s nothing exterior coming in,” Sharon says. The environment in the Robson Valley is also well-suited to making organic wines, having little industry to pollute the ground and water. “You don’t get any of the heavy metal pollutants,” Kelly says. “If you put a California wine on the table, I can tell you it’s from California just the way it affects my palette with the amount of metals and pollution.” While they’ve taken a few years longer to grow because of the shorter growing season, it appears once they hit a certain point they will produce like any other grape, Sharon says. One grape they had written-off, since they hadn’t seen any sign of it in several years, came back this year.
Kelly Mortensen checks on his grape vines in his 5-acre vinyard. He planted the first grapes 5 years ago. Two species have survived and he is experimenting with others. He and his wife Sharon have the most northern vinyard in Canada, as far as they know. They are within a few degrees of latitude to the most northern vinyard in the world.
Got a comment? Send it to us! lkeil@ therockymountaingoat.com
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 A7
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in the province Hazel Manser has the most northern free days, but you can get by with 120. winery that produces wine in B.C. near In addition to that, you need the temSalmon Arm. perature on those days to add up to They have been producing wine there 1400 degrees. for 14 years. He says it’s more than just the latiShe says the deep root systems help to tude. It’s also site-dependant. keep the plant moist and alive during “If you’ve got valleys where cool air winter months. They never have frost pools, well that’s obviously a strike in the summer in her area, and frost against you.” begins late September. In the Okanagan, the only impact “We grow wines most thus far has been the people don’t know “If climate continues to availability of waabout,” she says. ter, he says. People “There’s still very change at the same rate it’s are converting to been changing, things are drip-systems from little recognition.” She says she only going to get better.” cheaper over-head doesn’t count on irrigation. climate change. All Greg Jones, proGreg Jones, climatologist at Southshe knows is her fessor and reern Oregon University pecializing in grapes are doing re- climate variability and its impact on search climatoloally well. gist at Southern agriculture The climate can Oregon University go up to 38 degrees who specializes in in the summer, and climate variabil-28 in the winter, she says, though most ity and its impact on agriculture, says winters are more mild. They only grow there’s a cold limit and warm limit to white wine because of the shorter sea- growing grapes in the world and B.C. son. has always been at the margins of coldShe says it’s hard to dish out advice climate suitability. on growing northern wine, since every But the climate is changing that. region has its own sub-climate. He says the Willimette Valley of OreManfred Freese of the B.C. Grape- gon is one example of an area that nevgrowers Association says hybrid grapes er used to produce wine due to the cliwould likely work the best. mate. Today the climate is much more He says the ideal is to have 150 frost- suitable for ripening fruit, he says. The Mortensens have been intentionally cutting their vines back so the root systems deepen as low as 20 feet. They have a water table under their property which allows the vines to “self-irrigate.” The changes in climate may mean fruit trees such as plums and peaches will be able to grow in new places as well, due to longer summers and milder winters. Photo: Laura Keil
Okanagan growers see competion inch north
Courtesy www.winesnorthwest.com
He says a similar thing happened with more northern areas of B.C. “Is it going to continue to get better over time in the future? It’s likely. If climate continues to change at the same rate it’s been changing, things are only going to get better.” But some regions may suffer. “If you’re a grower that’s been doing fairly well with Pinot Noir or Chardonnay in a given region and the climates continue to warm, they may not be suited to growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the future.” He says it means they may have to look at planting other grape varieties – a costly process. There could also be problems related to new pests and diseases. In some places the issue may be added irrigation. “Cool climate zones tend to be in much better shape than warm climate zones especially in the last 20-50 years.” “Most people view climate change as a
monatomic temperature rise over time. The problem is it doesn’t really do that. What happens is there are cool years like this year. This spring has been one of the oddest coolest years in the western United States. However the rest of the globe is the warmest it’s ever been on record.” She says they have had a lot of support from friends and people in the community. “They come out and weed. All the planting was done as a consortium. You wouldn’t believe the people that came down. All of our friends came down with shovels and sun huts and they planted and they dug and they planted.” Their 13-year-old daughter has her own vine that she experiments with. She has helped them figure out whether or not to keep grass near the vines and in what season.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Letter:
HST does NOT affect new car purchases With the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax in British Columbia on July 1, some misinformation has surfaced as related to the HST and its affect on new car purchases. In fact, the new HST has zero effect on the amount of tax that will be paid on a new car, and some consumers will even pay less for their vehicle under the new tax rules. New car dealers across BC are receiving phone calls from consumers who are concerned that the new blended tax will make a new car unobtainable. The reality is that both the GST and PST, which are blended together to form the new HST, were already charged on all new vehicle purchases prior to the introduction of the blended tax. This means that the total tax we must charge on a new vehicle remains exactly the same – 12 per cent – as it did prior to July 1. Some new vehicle consumers will actually find savings with the HST when they visit our showrooms, in that its introduction means the elimination of the vehicle “luxury tax” of up to 3 per cent on new cars worth more than
$55,000. Consumers who are researching to purchase a used vehicle should also know that the combined tax rate means that private sales are now subject to the same tax as public sales. This means that, dollar-for-dollar, buying a used car from a private seller will cost the same – if not more, due to the competitive pricing that only an established dealer can offer – than buying from a new car dealership. Our industry is transitioning out of an undeniably difficult time with exciting technological advances and low sticker prices showcased on the showroom floors of new car dealers across this province. Consumer confidence is returning and we continue to closely monitor the needs and concerns of our consumers to ensure we are offering the clearest information available with regards to perceived impacts of the HST. Blair Qualey, President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC
Robson Valley fires update While wildfires elsewhere in the province continue to cause trouble for B.C. residents and suppression professionals, in the Robson Valley wildfires have remained predictable and controllable this summer to date. A mid-summer cooling has aided local crews and all fires within the Robson Valley are either extinguished or completely under control, says Brent Bye, Senior Protection Officer for the Prince George Fire Center. “Currently there are only two initial attack targets that have not been actioned due to poor visibility inhibiting flying, but this means that rain will keep them small, if not put them out before we get to them.” Bye says that other than these two small targets, the Robson Valley Zone has two “let burn” fires which have been monitored for several weeks, and will continue to be monitored for the rest of the summer. One fire is at the head of the Canoe River Valley, while the other fire is up the Morkill River Valley. “I believe that the rain may have already put out the Morkill fire, and the
Canoe River fire has not had any activity in quite a while” says Bye. While most of the Prince George Fire Center is relatively calm compared to the rest of the province, Bye says that one fire south of Fraser Lake has grown to over 550 hectares and is continuing to grow, however, supression efforts on this fire are succeeding.
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Peter Amyoony Special to The Goat
Gardening with Pete
Last week we looked at how a lack of water can cause a setback to our growing plants as it lowers their production and vigor. This week I would like to touch on nutrient disorders in plants and how to put things back in balance. The first guideline to remember is “moderation in all things”. Too much of some plant nutrients can be as bad or even worse than too little. The first three essential nutrients of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are free for the taking from the air and water. As long as we keep the soil loose around the plants so the air can get to the roots and keep adequate moisture coming to the plants, these three things will be available. For the other essential nutrients I will give the name of the element and its symbol, followed by the signs of a deficiency (D) and then the sources of this nutrient (S). Nitrogen/N: D – Light green to yellow leaves, growth stunted.
S – Blood meal, Fish Fertilizer, Manure Phosphorus/P: D – Red or purple leaves, slow growth. S – Bonemeal, rock phosphate, super phosphate. Potassium/K: D – Reduced vigor, susceptible to disease and pests, small fruits, thin skin. S – Greensand, muriate or sulphate of potash, seaweed, wood ashes. Calcium/Ca: D – Growth points of plant are damaged, tomato blossom end rot. S - Gypsum, limestone, oyster shell, dolomite lime. Magnesium/Mg: D – Low yield, old leaves turn white or yellow. S – Dolomite lime, magnesium sulphate (Epsom Salts) Sulphur/S: D – Light green to yellow leaves, growth stunted. S – Garden sulphur, super phosphate. Boron/B: D – Small leaves, multiple
buds, heart rot. S – Borax (A little goes a long way!) Iron/Fe: D – Yellow leaves, but the veins remain green. S – Chelated iron, iron sulphate. Manganese/Mn: D – Leaves mottled with yellow and white, growth stunted. S – Manganese Sulphate Zinc/Zn: D – Small thin and yellow leaves, low yield. S – Zinc sulphate. There are many other trace minerals in the soil that are usually supplied by the addition of rotted manure or compost. As insurance, some folks sprinkle “ fritted trace minerals “ on their compost piles when building the pile. These are available at garden centres, feed stores and local hardware stores. Another great source of trace minerals is rotted tree leaves as the roots of large trees go deep into the subsoil and bring up these nutrients.
It is also good to remember that different soils can affect the availability of essential elements. For example, phosphorus is less available to plants in clay soils, magnesium is lower in sandy soils after heavy rain or irrigation, and iron and manganese are more available in acidic soils. Overall, a continued program of building healthy soil by adding compost, well-rotted manure, and cover crops (green manure) is the best insurance against plant deficiencies. If you have any problems, don’t hesitate to call or drop by, as I have lots of great books with many clear pictures of plant pests, diseases and deficiencies. Pete Amyoony is a gardener in the Robson Valley of central B.C. high in the Rocky Mountains near Mount Robson. He has lived, worked and gardened in the Dunster area for almost thirty years.
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The Tourism Directory
Call Joe at 250-566-1444 or jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
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$40 for 4 weeks, or $20 for one week
Teepee Meadows Cottage
Spectacular mountain and marshland scenery Phone:250-566-9875 Located 3 km west of Valemount
Hosts: Claude, Alke & Noland Germain 545 Jack Adams Road, Box 786 Valemount, BC V0E 2Z0 Open at 4:30 pm daily 1002 5th Avenue Valemount, B.C.
Visit us at www.caribougrill.com
The Business Directory
CRACKMASTER Windshield Repair/Replacement Specialists
PET SUPPLIES-HOME ELECTRONICS SHAW DIRECT TV-SIRIUS RADIOS FLAT GLASS-MIRROR-SCREENS CUSTOM VINYL SIGNS-BANNERS-VEHICLE GRAPHICS-MAGNETIC SIGNS WOOD & PELLET STOVES & SUPPLIES WOOD PELLETS @ Country Wide Sales & Services Ltd Conveniently located downtown @ 1160-5th Ave
Open 9 am -5:30 pm Monday thru Friday
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Corrections: Volume 1, Issue 6 “Valemount insurance high, tied to Williams Lake”
Volume 1, Issue 7 “Village hands air quality committee to the district”
Volume 1, Issue 7 “Village of Valemount sheds properties”
In this article, we reported that McBride is in a different insurance region than Valemount. McBride is in fact in the same ICBC sub-region as Valemount and McBride residents pay the same rates as Valemount residents.
In this article it was reported that the village recieved $20,000 from the Columbia Basin Trust to create a position for an air quality coordinator. Funding for this position was in fact recieved from the Ministry of Environment, not the CBT.
In this article it was reported that the village is selling Lot 1111 on 5th Avenue for $30,000. It was also reported that this lot had an assessed value of $25,800. Upon further review, it has been determined that there are in fact two lots on 5th
Integrity you can trust
Avenue with the address 1111. The assessed value for the lot for sale in question is $33,900 not $25,800 as was reported. The addresses face each other on opposite sides of 5th Avenue. The lot in question was created due to a recent subdivision, and is the only lot in the area on the north side of 5th Avenue with an odd numbered address.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
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Plain Talk Horoscopes
Twenty for a Toonie: The Classified Ads Classified ads policy If it is for free, it is free. Up to 20 words for $2, 30 words for $3, 40 words for $4 etc. If the asking price is over $499, then it is $5 for 20 words, $6 for 30 words etc. Non-business announcements are welcome at the same rates. The Rocky Mountain Goat reserves the right to refuse to print any classified submission that is not an advertisement of a private sale, or rental arrangement. How to submit an ad
To submit your classified ad, e-mail or call the goat, or place your ad in an envelope with payment and drop it in our mailbox, 1070 5th Ave For Rent
Used Building Materials
For Sale
Wanted
Salvaged metal siding for sale. Perfect for any outbuilding or shop. Approximately 550-600 square foot coverage. Will consider any offer! Call Joe 250-566-1444
500 gal. single-wall fuel tank. Asking $200. Call 250566-5069, ask for Jared
Small truck canopy to fit S-10. Length 75” by width 60”. Message 250-566-1588
Heifer and one-year old llama for sale. Cute kitten to give away. Call 250-5660010, ask for Maria.
Specific gravity thermometer for beer making and coffee machine. Call 250566-5135
House for sale. Three bedrooms. Two bathrooms. 14th Avenue. Asking $175, 000. Call 1-867-332-4778. Ask for Ryan.
Harwood Flooring. 150 square feet or more. Call 566-0010 before 10:00am and after 7:00pm, ask for Jimmy
Trusses for sale. Approximately 42 foot span. 14 units. Single slant, could be modified with a chalk line and skill saw. Now considering offers! Call Joe 250566-1444 and skill saw. Now considering offers! Call Joe 250-566-1444
Mobile Home with full addition, and large garage on a lot, in Valemount recently renovated. comes w/ Varying lengths of flores- fridge stove washer dryer. cent light fixtures for sale. Currently rented. Asking Futoshiki Will consider anySudoku, offer! Call Kakuro $110.000.00& O.B.O Joe 250-566-1444 Call 778 328 7285 leave a message.
www.
For free! Desperately seeking a good home for a small 3-year old blue-healer-rottweiller cross male dog, or if you can also provide tempoPuzzles rary foster parenting as well, please call: 250-566-0173.
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Aries: You feel surprisingly good due to an unexpected interaction of medications, consult your doctor. Taurus: You are way behind schedule, or at least you would be if you ever got around to making a schedule. Gemini: When confronted by a choice this week, choose the option you prefer. Cancer: You will feel patronized by your horoscope telling you something obvious today. Leo: You need a break from all the drama, try to make it a comedy this week by only responding with one-liners. Virgo: As only happens when three planets align, you will have a good hair day. Libra: You are tired, irritable and unwilling to listen to reason. As you will ignore this, it is more to inform those around you. Scorpio: You are glad that the astrologer does not harbour any ill will towards a Scorpio as it would adversely affect your horoscope. Sagittarius: You will save a lot of time this week when you learn that the book you are reading was made into a movie. Capricorn: With uncertainty in your future, rest assured beer will always be there for you. Aquarius: Ignore your problems this week by explaining in depth how those around you should fix theirs. Pieces: A nice relaxing day will be good for the “sole”
Why pay more for a classified ad than what you are selling is worth?
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Wanted to rent 3-bedroom house in Valemount. Must allow one clean, polite, nonshedding dog. Please call 566-3071.
Lost Black Samsung Telus Cell Phone. Please call 250566-4044.
For Free
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House For Rent. 3 bedrooms. 14 th. Wood Heat and propane. $900/month. Call 1-867-332-4778. Ask for Ryan.
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Our classified ads are cheap, and EVERYBODY reads a free newspaper. Call 250-566-1444 to place your ad today!
www.sudoku-puzzles.net
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Let The Rocky Mountain Goat assist your business www.sudoku-puzzles.net with targeted marketing ideas. Exclusive 2.25 inches high by a whole page width at the bottom of the calssified page for $75/week
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Community Events
August
September
Aug. 20-22 Robson Valley Music Festival (See P.2) Location: Dunster, B.C.
Sept. 4-5 Valemount Marina Association Annual Fishing Derby Location: Kinbasket Lake near Valemount
Aug. 28 Moving Arts Festival (see sidebar) Location: Valemount 11 a.m.
Sept. 10-12 60th anniversary of the train wreck near Valemount that killed 17 soldiers who were en route to Korea. Location: Valemount
See ongoing events below
Sept. 17th Thrift Store Fashion Show Location: Anglican Church, McBride
Ongoing diversions Every day Interpretive talks on spawning salmon Valemount Visitor’s Centre 7 p.m. Every Wednesday Farmer’s Market in Jasper Location: Jasper Legion parking lot 10 a.m. Valemount Seniors’ Music Night 7p.m. Every Thursday Cribbage tournament Location: Valemount Golden Years Lodge lower level 1-4 p.m.
Every Friday Location: Valemount Musical jam at The Gathering Tree cafe, 7 p.m. Hamburgers and drinks at the Legion, 5:30 p.m. Every Friday to Sunday Live music on the Canoe Mountain Restaurant patio. Location: Valemount 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Every Saturday Farmer’s Market in Dunster 10 a.m. Location: Dunster Community Hall Farmer’s Market in McBride
Got a community event? Let us know! lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
Where are you?
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Local arts festival On Saturday, August 28, starting at 11 a.m., the Valemount Museum will be holding an all-day local arts festival. The event will include music, dance, theatre, visual art, film and even a juggling workshop. The scheduled events will include selections from a hymnal accompanied by David Norwell on the pump organ in the museum, short theatrical presentations by Anne-Marie Scott and Jody Newham, a beginner’s juggling workshop, a reading by Seiji Hiroe from his recently published children’s book the Cowboy Fisherman, a screening of King Hamlet by David Carson and David Lerch, a tango demonstration by Michael Austin and Katherine Beeson and a music jam. The museum is also inviting visual artists to come set up at the museum and draw, paint, sculpt or photograph objects in and around the museum. Paper and pencils will also be provided to anyone wishing to join in. The day will also mark the opening of Pioneers, a new exhibit at the museum. The exhibit consists of a series of panels which will be displayed throughout the museum about the lives of some of the people who have been an important part of the story of Valemount. The Pioneers display will be an ongoing exhibit in the museum. The idea behind the event is to use the museum, which explores Valemount’s past, as a setting to celebrate forms of expression alive in the community today. A conversation between now and then. The event is free and begins at 11 a.m. Check out posters for the event for the exact schedule. For more information, please visit the museum, open seven days a week until the end of August, or call Raghu at 250-566-4177.
Did you know? The Robson Valley is only one hour from Jasper. Ways to travel: By train: Three days a week, catch the 12:45 train from Jasper through Mount Robson Park to Dunster or McBride or all the way to Prince George or Prince Rupert. Cost to McBride (1-way)= $30 By bus: Catch a Greyhound bus to Valemount for $25 or to McBride for $36. By car: Take Hwy 16 west to Dunster or McBride. To get to Valemount or Blue River, turn onto Hwy 5.
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www.therockymountaingoat.com
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Right Agent... For Today’s Market Spittal Crk, Tete Jaune Cache
$159,000
- Nestled in the Rockies - Cottage & modular - Spectacular views - Private 9.15 acres
201 Dominion St, McBride
$163,500
- Nice heritage home on two large lots - Five bdrms, 2 baths - Excellent guest house - Central location
RE/MAX Centre city • 1679 15th Avenue • Prince George BC V2L 3X2 • 1-250-562-3600 Each office is independently owned and operated Data is from sources believed to be reliable but accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dyke Rd, McBride
$132,500
- Market garden potential - Prime 19 acre parcel - Sides highway for sales - On community water
4592 Mountainview Rd, McBride
$350,000
- Open and spacious - Valley view home - On 13.5 treed acres - 5 bdrm, 4 baths
250-981-5742 or 250-569-0125 or Toll Free: 1-877-732-5767 • allanmiller@remax.net
AL Miller
MCBRIDE, VALEMOUNT, AND AREA View all listings at: www.robsonvalleyrealestate.ca THE HARD-WORKING NICE GUY
Blue River remembers beloved, remarkable woman
Forest vandals strike at Spittal Creek
She was known as “Happy Cooker” over own share of cooking, Beaton says. She the Citizens’ Band radio she used for tak- was a very warm-hearted person, opening the orders of ing her door to truckers travelseveral young ling along the people who Yellowhead. didn’t have From her tiny much support restaurant in Blue at home. River, Lolly Fehr “She just welwould fry up her comed them famous Lolly into her famBurger in time for ily and there the next trucker’s they were for arrival. the rest of her Photo submitted by Rhoda Tamboline “Everybody Lolly’s Place was featured in an episode of Wayne life, they were loved her Lolly Rostad’s TV series “On The Road Again.” part of her burgers,” says one family.” resident of Blue River who knew Lolly. She did many walks and fundraisers for “They weren’t little hamburgers. They M.S. after her daughter was diagnosed were big.” with the disease. To everyone else, Linda Olive Fehr Beaton says she maintained her cheerwas affectionately known as “Lolly” af- ful demeanour even after being diagter which her former restaurant, Lolly’s nosed with cancer, smiling and joking Place, was named. She passed away July with people when she was well enough to 29 at age 75 due to cancer, leaving her go out. husband Ed, children, grandchildren and She was very good at puns and wittimany people in her community of Blue cisms. Since her last name was “Fehr,” River mourning. when someone asked how she was, she “Our town’s population has gone down often replied “fair.” by about 100, it seems, with Lolly gone,” She was small in stature, but Beaton says says Becca Beaton who knew Lolly many she was “a very big person in a tiny body.” years in Blue River. “She was a real pal of “There won’t ever be another Lolly,” mine, and I miss her dreadfully already.” Beaton says. “We may find some of those Originally from Newfoundland, Lolly traits in a variety of other people but she moved to Blue River 40 years ago. She was was a very special bundle all in one.” known for her colourful and wild outfits. Lolly’s favourite colour was pink. For She loved to dress up special occasions, her birthday last year, she picked out the whether it was in a Santa suit, or green brightest pink jacket she could find, Beahat and striped socks on St. Patrick’s Day. ton says. When her son commented that “It lifted everybody’s hearts,” Beaton it was a very bright colour, she replied, says. “Things will seem awfully dull in “Yes, I know it is. That’s just the way I like comparison.” it.” Whether it was an event at the CommuShe requested any donations be made to nity Hall or the Legion, when food was the Canadian Cancer Society or Multiple required, Lolly always did more than her Sclerosis Society of Canada.
Joseph Nusse jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com
Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
Spittal Creek is a legendary locale for controversy and crooked schemes, ever since the man the creek is named after tried to plant gold in the hopes of starting a gold rush over a century ago. But last week less than constructive vandals added another chapter to the creek’s crooked history. Local woodlot owner Cliff Jackman has been removing beetle-prone pine from the Spittal Creek area for several weeks. Last week he came to work to find some of his equipment vandalized, and some provocative graffiti painted on the main
recreational area highway sign. “They poured acid on the windows of a processor,” says Jackman. “It peeled some of the paint off.” Jackman on whole the effects were minor, and the provocative phrases painted on the highway sign have already been painted over. “I think it was just someone travelling through.”
comments? lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
The main highway sign with the provocative graffiti already painted over. Photo: Laura Keil