FREE Every Friday
No. 4
Friday January 23, 2015
The Arjeplog Times Your weekly paper with news, views & interviews. Since 90/91. Season 24.
Mobile Test Units & Good Service Ida Dahlberg, a local woman, was so happy that her Skoda Octavia from 1997 passed the test. That means it is roadworthy and now she can drive it for another year. Ida turns 22 on Sunday and has just finished her training to be a house painter. Her car was tested in one of two mobile test facilities. Our old SAAB from 2000 did not do as well. A loose steering joint, bad tyres and a missing triangle meant that the test had to be re-done. Luckily, the company Fixar’n, offered to solve all our problems and gave an example of the fantastic service we can enjoy in Arjeplog. By lunch-time the same day the SAAB’s minor ailments were taken care of by Per Nilsson and student Davy Rodriguez Dantas. The attitude at Fixar’n can be described as casual, but the service level is on top. The manager, Jimmy Bergman is always ready to crack a joke and the feeling in the workshop is jovial, relaxed and warm. This story was supposed to be about the mobile car test station, but as it turned out, life is full of surprises. Good Service When you ask locals what is good in Arjeplog what is often mentioned is the closeness of everything as well as good service. In this case, our vehicle did not pass the road worthy test. To be able to re-test I needed help
Ida Dahlberg is waiting patiently while her old Skoda is tested. Her car passed and she is happy that it is possible to do the yearly test in Arjeplog.
quickly. Fixar’n re-scheduled and within a couple of hours the 15-yearold SAAB had passed the test.
Mobile Vehicle inspection Unit The fact that vehicles must be roadworthied is important for safety. In Arjeplog as well as a few other small towns in Sweden, the yearly tests are done in a mobile vehicle inspection unit. Cars that are older than three years have to be tested every year. Arjeplog is too small to have a permanent test station. Ten years ago the first mobile unit was presented and every month it arrives in Arjeplog and stays for one week.
Jimmy Bergman och Per Nilsson, Fixar’n
continued on page 6
INSIDE: Hot Se at: Ali Kocak, Opel; Local: Caroline Torf ve, ATM, Iglootel opening , What’s on?
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This & That • Correction concerning Hornavanskolans programmes. ‘Fordonstestteknik’ Automotive Testing Technology is a secondary school programme with a focus on the winter testing industry of vehicles in and around Arjeplog. Recruitment is nationwide for this programme. There is also a technique programme which does not have recruitment in the whole country, but any pupil can apply for this programme. • Once again Gertrud Åberg at Coop saved a car tester who had forgotten his money when he was shopping at the supermarket. She lent him money for his food bill and of course, he came in the very next day and paid her back, very thankful that she had trusted him.
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Snowmobiles stolen Two brand-new snowmobiles and a trailer were stolen from Experience Arjeplog by Kraja last weekend. It was done in a very unusual way. A person came in and rented the snow-mobiles and the trailer. He paid and left with the vehicles. After a while, he reported to the police that someone had stolen the trailer loaded with the sleds. The value of the lost goods is around 300,000 SEK.
The people working at Experience Arjeplog are, of course, very upset. They believe that the person who rented the equipment was commissioned to do so for the people who then stole the vehicles. The person who rented the snowmobiles is known to the Police, according to staff at Experience Arjeplog. Have you seen anything? Call Experience.
• Jan Edvardsson, former boss at the Silverhatten and Kraja concern, still wants to build a new hotel just 200 metres from the hotel that fired him. The matter has been going through lots of different stages and the fight is still on. Silverhatten Resort has filed a complaint that, among other things, the new hotel would hinder the view from Silverhatten hotel.
Health Care Centre Ambulance: tel 112 Arjeplog: Emergency: Tel 0961-148 02 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Always phone this number first and explain your problem, the medical staff on duty will help you. Doctor on duty: Mon-Fri 7.30-21, Sat & Sun 12-18. Other times, there is always a doctor on duty in Arvidsjaur. Arvidsjaur health centre tel 0960-57501.
A new Lynx and a Polaris snowmobile were stolen from Experience Arjeplog last week.
This & That • Changes at the municpal offices: Ann Engberg, head of the administration and Christer Andersson, technical boss at the kommun have resigned. Ann Engberg from Arvidsjaur,
was hired just six months ago to the top administrative position in the municipality of Arjeplog and has now resigned. Christer Andersson has also left his position after several years.
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Candid interview with a car tester
The Hot Seat What is good in Arjeplog? The local people are so friendly and helpful. Whenever you need help, there is always someone who is there ready and willing to help you. The landscape here is beautiful. It is so natural and it is wonderful to see Life in Nature so close. I like seeing the animals, such as the reindeer and the moose, in their natural surroundings.
Name: Ali Kocak. Age: 37. Family: Wife and three children, 2 boys, 11 and 6 years and a girl 11/ years old. Home: Russelsheim, Germany, where Opel headquarters are.
What is bad in Arjeplog? This is the fifth season that I am in Arjeplog and the only thing that is not good is that it is so dark in December and January. But there is nothing we can do about that. I think things are getting better every year.
Company: Adam Opel AG. Occupation: I plan and co-ordinate winter test activities for our company here in Arjeplog. In summer I am a driver trainer in Germany for Opel customers from all over the world. Favourite food: I love meat. I like the reindeer meat here. Dream car: Insignia OPC Unlimited from my company is a dream car. However, my dream is a black Porsche 911.
Ali Kocak, Opel
Present car: Opel Astra J.
What music you enjoy? I like slow music, music that is good for relaxing, soul music.
Spare time activities: I spend my spare time with my children. I like to watch football, I used to play, now I watch and my boys play. I am also studying for a Bachelor of Engineering degree, so in my spare time here in Arjeplog, I study.
What is important in life? My family and my friends are important to me. If they are happy then I am happy.
Opel Were Here First Car testers from Opel were the first to visit Arjeplog. In the guestbook at the Silver Museum one can find that Dietmar Hackner and a group of engineers from Opel came here as early as 1969. They did not do any testing here then, but a couple of years later they took the first car on to the handcleared tracks on Lake Hornavan. The first time they were not sure that the ice would be strong enough so they put the Opel Admiral in drive mode and let it go onto the lake by itself.
Opel car testers clearing the ice track on Lake Hornavan
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It Feels Good To Give
T
his winter I am going to do something that I think is very exciting. Some people look at me with wonder, but I promise you I’m not a very good person. I am just like everyone else. I have a friend who is sick. His kidneys are not working properly and he receives dialysis 15 hours a week. His kidney disease is breaking him down, slowly but surely and he is in line to get a new kidney. Awhile ago, we agreed that he would get one of mine. I have two kidneys and I only need one!
I
n Sweden 600 people are waiting in line to receive a new kidney. And when I am asked how I could give a kidney to someone that I’m not even related to, and especially as I have four children of my own, my answer is: if more people were willing to share, there would not be a waiting list and then there would not be a problem if one of my children needed help.
B
ut what if I get sick? Yes, if I get a kidney disease then it would probably be in both kidneys. The truth is that this disease rarely affects just one. So that argument also falls. On the down side, I will be sick a few weeks after the surgery, until my body realizes that it only has access to one purifying organ. My friend, who receives the new kidney, will be healthy and well. And it will be worth everything! If I got sick, I would very much like to receive an organ which would help me get well. So, it follows that I should also be prepared to give. In the same way that many of us donate blood regularly.
I
nstead of looking for arguments against donating a kidney, we should look at the many arguments that are in favour of doing this.
I
did not write this column so that you should have a bad conscience. However, perhaps you, like me, need to undertand that it is possible to donate an organ and help another human being to live a healthy life. To share something that you can live without.
Britta Flinkfeldt Jansson Mayor of Arjeplogs Kommun (head of the local council)
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Partners of The Arjeplog Times We thank our partners for their support ARJEPLOG
ARVIDSJAUR
ARJEPLOG’S KOMMUN A-Event and Fish shop Argentis Arjeplogs Eltjänst Arjeplog Test Management Cartest Cold Spot Facilities Colmis Proving Ground Coop supermarket Direkten, Kalles Kiosk Experience Arjeplog Fixar’n Flinkfeldts Buss Galtis Ski Resort Harry’s & Frasses Health Care Centre Hornavan Hotell Hotell Lyktan Hotell Silverhatten ICA supermarket Icemakers Iglootel Järnia-Granns hardware & sports Jutis Moose Village Kraja Leon’s Steakhouse & Sports bar Nina’s Boutique Pizzeria Verona Restaurang Vuogga Silver Museum & Tourist Info SiS Sweden Swedish Church in Arjeplog Tjintokk
Arctic Food at Airport Arvidsjaur Airport Health Care Centre
CAR TEST COMPANIES BorgWarner BMW Group BOSCH BWI Group Daimler AG Fiat Group GKN Driveline Hitachi Automotive Systems Hyundai Mobis Jaguar Land Rover Knorr-Bremse MAN Truck and Bus Mando Opel Porsche
OTHERS FlyCar German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce
Friday January 23 Sunrise: 9.15 Sunset: 14.45 Length of day: 5 hours 30 minutes
If you or your company would like to be a partner of The Arjeplog Times, please contact Illona or Johan, tel 0961-616 88 or lilab@telia.com. We thank our partners for their solidarity, their belief in the need of the paper and their financial contribution.
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Caroline Torfve, Arjeplog Test Management – this week’s local Name: Caroline Torfve
What’s good in Arjeplog? The wonderful Nature.
Age: 34 What’s bad in Arjeplog? The fact that there are so few people living here and the gossip.
Family: Sambo, Tom Wiklund, two children: Theo 5 and a half and Valle 4. Home: Arjeplog. We live in the barge in Rattik and in Adolfström, where I grew up.
What music do you listen to? Music is not a big thing for me, but I like Country and Western Music, because it is good music to drive to. Keith Urban is one artist I like.
Company: Arjeplog Test Management, ATM. Occupation: I am responsible for keeping the company up to date with ISO 9001 certification and administration. Favourite food: I love French food and I try to blend French and local traditions. One example is Röding (alpine char) Provençale. My favourite is my Pappa’s Ripa, Ptarmigan caught using traditional methods in the Lais Valley and cooked by my father. Dream car: I have no dream car, but I have a list of features that I would love to have in a car. It has to be big enough for the
Caroline Torfve, Arjeplog Test Management, ATM.
whole family and the dogs. It has to be 4x4 and with low fuel consumption. Any suggestions out there? Present car: Skoda Octavia Scout. Spare-time activities: To be in the countryside in the Lais valley. I enjoy sking, photography and cooking.
Positive signs in Arjeplog Building, extending and renovating is a good sign that the car testing industry is alive and well in Arjeplog. Hornavan Hotell was originally a two-storey building, but the owners anticipated growth and prepared the hotel for a third floor. Now that extra floor is in place in one part of the hotel and the rest will follow. The entrance has also had a face-lift and a big moose is there to greet all the guests. This is one example of several small and large changes that indicate that you, the car testers, are here to stay.
Sara Dahlberg, on maternity leave from Hornavan Hotell this year is happy to have her animal friend in the new entrance.
What’s important in life? Apart from the obvious, like health, family and love, I think it is important to stress less and “Carpe Momentum” (Seize the moment).
Caroline grew up in Adolfström, a village 75 kms from Arjeplog in the mountains. During her school years she travelled to and from school in Arjeplog every day. She worked out that it amounts to a distance equal to six and a half time round the world! Together with her sambo Tom Wiklund she is planning to move back to Adolfström one day and take over her parents’ tourist resort.
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Mobile Test Units & Good Service
continued from page 1
Technicians Mikael LundstrĂśm and Johan Johansson are very happy with the mobile workshop. When the unit arrives, it looks like a regular covered truck. Thirty minutes later it is a fully functional test station that can accommodate two cars or a large caravan. For the customers it is very convenient to be able to do the test here. It was calculated that three trips with the mobile unit will save about one thousand trips for the car owners. They have the capacity to test about ďŹ fty vehicles a day.
The mobile vehicle inspection unit up and working in Arjeplog.
Iglootel, Latest Attraction in Arjeplog Last week Iglootel by FlyCar was opened at Kraja. About 200 guests came to the opening of the latest attraction. Michael Fender, Fly Car talked about this new exciting joint venture with Silver Resort. The 800 square metre igloo consist of restaurants, conference rooms, bedrooms (with reindeer hides) and spa facilities. Some people mentioned that they did not see anyone from the local authorities at the opening. Ingela Edholm Forsberg, from Arjeplogs
kommun explained that unfortunately the mayor, Britta Flinkfeldt Jansson, and others were away at the time and that they are sorry they missed the opening. The kommun are very happy that the Iglootel is in Arjeplog and are pleased about what it will mean for Arjeplog. See more pictures from the opening on our Facebook page, The Arjeplog Times.
Michael Fender, FlyCar and Iglootel.
The pub in the Iglootel was full of happy guests.
Daniel Knab and and his team were responsible for building and decorating the new Iglootel.
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Arjeplog ◗ AEVENT & FISH SHOP Fish and seafood in the fish shop (old Lena’s Fish shop). Open Mon and Fri 8-10, 14-18, Tues, Wed, Thurs 14-18. We offer ice-fishing tours. Info and booking tel 073-181 3199, 070-744 7676 and at the fish shop. www.a-event.se ◗ ARJEPLOGS ELTJÄNST All electrical work as well as networks for telephones & computers. Tel 0961-10240. ◗ ATM ARJEPLOG TEST MANAGE MENT Ice tracks, office and workshop. Engineering service, driving school. Info: 0961582800, Åsa or Gunilla. www.atmab.com ◗ CHURCH OF SWEDEN Parish of Arjeplog. Church services on Sundays at 11.00. Open every day 8-16. ◗ COLD SPOT FACILITIES Testing facilities for rent, short and longterm. Workshops, offices, tracks. Magnus Holmgren tel 070-641 9998, Rickard Larsson tel 070-635 8110. ◗ COLMIS PROVING GROUND One of the leading facilities for winter testing, providing total service: tracks, workshops and offices within a fenced area. We also arrange accommodation. Tel 0961-720 100. www.colmis.com. ◗ COOP KONSUM SUPERMARKET Open: Every day 8-21. Fresh bread, grilled chicken, fruit, vegetables, organic produce, mineral water, DVD-films, and lots more. ◗ DIREKTEN, KALLES KIOSK Sweets, soft drinks, office material, postcards, stamps, newspapers and books. Swedish Sim cards. Lotto. Mon-Fri 9-20, Sat 9-18, Sun 12-18. Drottninggatan, tel 0961-103 44. ◗ EXPERIENCE ARJEPLOG Snow-mobile events and activities: Joakim, tel 0961-101 02 or 070-551 1779. At the entrance to Kraja: clothes, spare parts and accessories for snowmobiles. Open: 8-17. NEW! Rent a Segway! 375 kr per hour. joakim.armgren@experiencearjeplog.se
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Useful Information ◗ FIXAR’N Tyres and repairs, wheel alignments. Everything for your cars. We can fix anything! Tow-truck 24-hours: Tel 070-510 5525. Industrivägen 6. Tel 0961-615 09.
◗ NINA’S BOUTIQUE Woollen caps, warm underwear, gloves, mittens, padded (ski)pants. Traditional Swedish woollen cardigans. Fashion clothes. Torggatan. Tel 0961-103 04.
◗ FLINKFELDTS BUSS Transfer to/from Arvidsjaur Airport, to book, tel 0771-100110. Direct tel to Airport bus: 0706-40 44 25. Bus tours. Email: office@flinkfeldtsbuss.se.
◗ SILVER MUSEUM & TOURIST INFORMATION Mon-Fri: 10-17, Sat 10-14. Jan 25 - March 29 also on Sunday 16-18. Exhibitions, multi-media show, souvenirs, tourist information. Entrance to museum: 80 kronor. Tel 0961-145 00. www.silvermuseet.se
◗ GALTIS SKI RESORT Open Saturdays and Sundays 10-16. Rental of equipment, restaurant. 11 km fr central Arjeplog. Tel lift: 440 26, office 0961-109 08. www.galtis.se ◗ HOTELL LYKTAN Hotel and conference in centre of town. Tel 0961-612 10, Fax 101 50. ◗ ICA SUPERMARKET Fruit and vegetables, also organic. Salad bar (10-18), fresh bread every day, grilled meat. NEW! Freshly baked pastries every Friday. Post office services. Mon-Fri 9-20, Sat & Sun 9-18. On facebook: Ica Nära Arjeplog. ◗ ICEMAKERS Test tracks on lake ice and land. Cold chambers for cars & heavy vehicles. Info: 0961-329 00, Karin or Katarina. www.icemakers.se ◗ IGLOOTEL new this year, at Kraja in Arjeplog. Open to the public: Mon 9-16, Tues, Thurs, Fri 11-16. Sat and Sun 10-16. Wed: closed to public. Guided tours (125 kr) every hour on the hour from 11.00, last one at 16.00. Info and bookings: Tel Kraja 0961-31500. Also, drop-in. ◗ MOOSE SAFARI I JUTIS Moose safari on snow-mobiles. Start Jutis, 25 minutes by car from Arjeplog along the Silver Road. 900 kr/person including coffee, tea, sandwich. Money-back guarantee. To book, phone Tony, tel 076-778 0240. www.jutis.se ◗ JÄRNIA, GRANNS Hardware shop, kitchenware, tools, shavers. Sports department with large selection of equipment and clothes, Storgatan 9. Tel 0961-101 70.
◗ VUOGGATJÅLME on the arctic circle. Restaurant Vuogga, accommodation, helicopter tours, snow-mobile rental and guided tours. For info: 0961-107 15.
Ar vidsjaur ◗ ARCTIC FOOD AT ARVIDSJAUR AIRPORT Fish and meat from Lapland. New shop in the departure hall. Open Mondays 10.30-15.00 Thursday 14.00-18.00 Friday 10.30-15.00. Eva Wallin tel 070-644 4941. eva@arcticfood.se ◗ ARVIDSJAUR AIRPORT Flights to & from Arlanda, Stockholm. Charter flights to/from Munich, Hahn, Hannover, Stuttgart. Cafeteria/lunch restaurant. Info: tel 0960-17380.
General Info ◗ DEUTSCHSCHWEDISCHE HANDELSKAMMER, Ihr Partner im Schwedengeschäft, tel 08-6651800. www.handelskammer.se. ◗ FLYCAR Direct flights to and from Arvidsjaur and Stuttgart, FrankfurtHahn, Munich, Hannover. www.fly-car.de.
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What’s on ? Friday, January 23 • Pub evening at Harrys. Open until 02.00. • ‘Planka’ Planked beef steak or salmon at Kraja. 17-22. Book a table tel 0961-315 00. 195 kr incl beer or glass of wine, 145 kr incl. alcohol-free beverage.
Saturday, January 24 • Disco at Hotell Silverhatten, 22-02. DJ: Emil Johansson. Entrance: 120 kr. Party bus from the town to Silverhatten at 22.00, and at 23.00. Return 24.00 and 2.05. Price 20 kr (cash). • Pub evening at Harrys. 22-02.
Sunday, January 25 • Sunday Brunch at Silverhatten, 11–14. 80 kr. •’ Taken ’ with Liam Neeson at the Cinema in the centre of town. Original soundtrack in English, Swedish sub-titles. 100 kr. • Sunday Café at Kraja. 14-18. Buffet of cakes, cookies pastries, coffee and tea 85 kr. • Snowmobile tours 12-14. 2 hours 1650 kr. For tours on other days, contact Joakim, Experience Arjeplog, tel 0961-101 02 or 070-551 1779. • SpeedCar Xtrem on the ice tracks at Experience Arjeplog at entrance to Kraja 14-18, 500 kr. www.experiencearjeplog.se
Monday, January 26 • Special at Hornavan Hotell. 19-22. Moose burger or Pepper steak with chunky fries and sauce. 195 kr incl. beer, 179 kr. incl. soft drink.
Wednesday, January 28 • Pub evening at Harrys. Open until 02.00.
Thursday, January 29 • ‘Planka’ Planked steak evening at Hornavan Hotell. Fillet of moose or salmon. 18-22. 250 kr. Book 24 hours in advance and get dessert and coffee on the house. Tel 0961-777 100. • SpeedCar Xtrem on the ice tracks at Experience Arjeplog, 18-21, 500 kr. Joakim, Experience Arjeplog, tel 0961-101 02 or 070-551 1779. www.experiencearjeplog.se
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FRASSES
Fast food every day 11–20. Pizza, also take away. Drottninggatan 2. Tel 0961-10101. HARRYS
Varied menu, pizza, à la carte every evening 18-22.30. Cosy pub open to 02.00 Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Drottninggatan 2. Tel 0961-101 06. HORNAVAN HOTELL
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11-14 90 kr. Coupons 10 for 855 kr, 5 for 430 kr. À la carte: 19-22. Monday Special: 19-22. Moose burger or Pepper steak. Thursday: Planka. 18-22. Catering and wilderness dinner in Saami hut. Tel 0961-777100. www.hornavanhotell.se HOTELL SILVERHATTEN
Lunch: Mon-Sat 11-14. 80 kr. Classic menu: every day 11-23. À la carte: every evening 19-23. Sunday brunch 11-14. 80 kr. Tel 0961-107 70. KRAJA RESTAURANT
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11-14. 80 kr . Classic menu: Mon-Fri 11-22. À la carte : every day 19-22. Planka: Fridays 17-22. Tues & Thurs: Evening buffet 18-20 129 kr. Sunday Café 14-18. Buffet: cakes, cookies pastries, coffee, tea. 85 kr. Tel 0961-31500. LEON’S STEAKHOUSE & SPORT BAR
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Tel 0961-616 88. lilab@telia.com Storgatan 12, Arjeplog, Sweden. www.arjeplogtimes.com
Where to Eat & Drink Arjeplog
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11-14. Sat 12-15, Sun 12-14. Main dishes, salad, pizza buffet. All day: À la carte, pizza until 23.00. Tel 0961-614 44. Drotninggatan PIZZERIA VERONA
Lunch: 11-14. 89 kr. Turkish Mezes buffet and main dish. Also: Pizza, pasta, à la carte. Take away. Fully licensed! Sports channels on big screen TVs. Football matches & other sporting events. Drottninggatan 6. Tel 0961-108 00. RESTAURANT VUOGGA
Illona & Johan Fjellström
Home-made food. In Vuoggatjålme on the arctic circle at the foot of the mountains. 105 km from central Arjeplog just off the Silver Road. Must book in advance during January. From Jan 31, open Wed-Sat 12-20, Sun 12-16. Tel 0961-107 15.