Methane to hydro
The news item about Wastech possibly converting methane to hydro power could be good news. Very good news indeed. If it comes about. But conversion from methane gas to electrical power is not a simple operation.
A University of Missouri study notes the generation “requires rather high investment in money and management”. They quote a figure of $6.9 million. The conversion requires capping of the landfill, and extensive maintenance. Don’t hold your breath on this one.
The Cost of Wellness slogan
It is public information after all. I was told that the cost was a little over $64,000 for this. Gasp? The money came from a grant, not directly from taxpayers. Still. Please understand. I have no quarrel with the slogan. Though I have heard comments to the effect that it seems rather diaphanous and fuzzy wuzzy.
For something that seems diaphanous and fuzzy wuzzy, that $64,000+ may seem like one heck of a lot of money. Still, if it makes the majority feel better for it, what the heck? It’s only money, after all.
I am also told that there is a move afoot to tie history in with Wellness. At first, the idea seemed kind of, well, way-out. But really, talking about it, the idea came up that our beautiful Visit Historic Ashcroft signs could have the Wellness logo underneath.
It may very well be an extra enticement for tourists to venture down the five mile road into Ashcroft. Especially if there was a permanent collection of fine art to look over as well. Just a thought. Don’t shoot the messenger!
Who took the cats?
I don’t know about you readers, but I am getting a little tired of the absence of names and specifics about crimes not only in our community, but others. The SPCA are launching charges, I read in the Kamloops news.
Are our pets safe, pending charges? Are the perpetrators of this fairly well organized operation (of removing cats) still among us? How are we being protected from further acts? Acts which seem inexplicable at the moment.
But Google tells me that cat fur is a saleable item, and that, countries like Germany use it in the fashion industry. Possibly, no mere psychological obsession this one. Ashcroft pet owners should start asking questions.
Jane has retired
Our Ashcroft Librarian has retired. And what wonderful, conscientious service she gave to the community!
A tea was held in her honor on the 17th of this month. Deanna Porter is the new head librarian, and has been in the Library Service for a number of years now. We wish you all the best in your new responsibility, Deanna!
The cakes and delicious sandwiches excelled. Looked like they had come out of a posh West Vancouver bakery. Asked who had made them, I was told Deanna had done so. I try to avoid superlatives in this column. But Magnifico! is the only word that can describe those beautiful, fresh tasting cakes. Made from scratch. Deanna, the fresh flavor of that lemon layer cake is still in my taste buds.
Seniors pensions (again)
Don’t you get tired of our federal governments toying around with seniors pensions? Maybe P.M. Harper was just trying to impress the last economic summit meeting in Davos (I think it was), but if the government is seriously considering upping the age of pension eligibility to 67, that will mean one heck of a lot of stress for many, particularly women in the work force without partners to share the climbing cost of living in Canada.
Adios, Mexico
Hardly a year goes by without some horror story happening to Canadian tourists in Mexico. Either they get blasted out of their Five Star hotel beds by a gas leak, or they get murdered and buried in shallow graves, or some thugs enter a well established mecca for winter users and kill and rob, or - well, the crimes seem endless.
Point is, Mexico is a relatively cheap holiday, yes. But the country lies in the drug cartel corridor of North America. Violence and murder are not confined to the people in the drug trade. By comparison, Maui, Cuba, Costa Rica and the West Indies are tourist destinations from which you never hear about crimes.
I know there are people in the area who winter in Mexico every year and never experience anything but the warmth and good nature of Mexicans. They are fortunate. Fortunate indeed.
Garbage in space
It isn’t surprising that the Swiss (probably the tidiest people on earth) have come up with a plan to “janitor” roaming satellites that are proliferating to a hazardous degree in space around our tiny planet.
The Swiss announced recently that they are launching a janitor satellite designed to get rid of space junk. Apparently, the junk is proving very costly to functioning satellites “and even manned space ships”.
Well, I have no intention to join the Branson lunacy to get into a space ship and see the world from a different perspective. Especially for a few billion quid.
But janitor satellite expungers? Gee. Maybe we can get the same kind of science to rid us of garbage down here?
Spences Bridge multi use facility
I have just learned (with apologies to Spences Bridgers) that the community has an excellent facility in the building that once housed their elementary school.
The Community uses the former school building as a combined recreation centre, art exhibition and workshop area, etc.
In Ashcroft, we have the empty building downtown that once housed Williams General Store. That building could be made into the kind of facility that would serve multi purposes, like Spences Bridge’s. Just a thought, but maybe, it is time for interested people to get together and brainstorm about ways and means. A multi use building seems to be the way to go. What do you say, people?
TNRD salary raises
One last item that may give you some action in the gulping mechanism of credibility..the salary raises that the TNRD have given themselves.
Last year, it was a whopping 40 per cent increase. This year, a bare, but I suppose, terribly, terribly necessary 1.-something per cent.
As one critic noted, “for a few hours each week” - for rural directors. Are these, perhaps the 1 per cent-ers that the Occupiers are referring to? Surely not. For so small an amount? Still, its all relative, isn’t it.