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Rocky Mountain Goat Tuesday, June 29, 2010
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Volume 1 Issue 3
Community members protest Dunster school’s lock-up Monday Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com After 94 years, students spent their last day at the Dunster Fine Arts School on Monday, but some area residents ensured the school grounds were occupied a little longer. The protesters say they have no intention to leave until a deal is reached with the school district to keep the school open for local education. Some 30 people arrived by 4 p.m. on Monday to protest the closure of the two-classroom building, and several stayed overnight in the gym which was left unlocked. They had originally intended to prevent the lock-up of the classrooms, but teacher Joel Zahn locked the doors by 3:30 Monday, before most people had arrived. Julie MacDonald, the parent who organized the sit-in, said they will continue to lobby to keep the building open for the people educating their children in Dunster. “I don’t think anyone’s willing to give up this school – the actual school building.” The Dunster PAC was dissolved today with the closure of the school, but some community members say they are founding a new group called the Dunster Community School Association with money fundraised for local education. MacDonald says the next step may be to protest in front of the Minister of Education’s office in Vancouver. “We’re just asking to keep the building, which isn’t asking too much, seeing as it’s sitting here anyway, empty, with the heat on,” MacDonald says. Last Thursday several hundred community members gathered for a fare-
More Inside:
Laura Keil The Dunster Fine Arts School student population has dwindled, but supporters say its focus on fine arts, small classes and local building are a valuable part of the community.
well celebration of the school. After the potluck, the students sang a song they wrote with their teacher. The song included memories of playing outside, getting stung by bees, making art and how everyone at Dunster school knew each other’s name. Principal Kairyn Jeneke stood by the wall as each student added their memory to the song. After it ended she clapped and seemed to choke back tears. Aeron Williamson an educational assistant at Dunster school says it has been an emotional time for both staff and students. “There are tears and it’s hard. It’s hard for us trying to hold it together but also
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acknowledging that it’s ok to cry.” “They’ve said they’re sad that the school is closing and they’re worried about their friends and where they are going to go, and their parents don’t know.” Williamson’s family is moving to McBride. Her son Owen finished Kindergarten at Dunster school and will begin Grade 1 in McBride. She says the commute is 45 minutes by car to the new school from their current home. “He’s only six, so it’d be way too long,” she says. The children showed off some of their work from the three-day arts festival at
the school last week: photographs, willow art, drama, song writing, and other arts. Some of the visual arts were on display in the gym and in the school hall. Terri Lewis, mother of students Jessica and Derrik Lewis, both 12, says her grandson would have been the fourth generation to attend the school. Her two other children, Joanna and Lorrie, went to this school from kindergarten to Grade 7. She says it’s sad to see the school close down. “We’ll lose that sense of belonging, because the school is the centre of anything that goes on,” she says.
Cont’ A2
New regional park in the works
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
(Cont’ from A1) focussed school. “Parents can come in and wander around and see how their kids are doing – it’s family.” She says she was one of many people to write letters to governments to try to keep the school open. “Everybody’s worked hard and put a lot of effort into keeping it open, and doing all the letter writing so we’ll just have to wait and see.” The tables, chairs and other school equipment is slated to return to the Prince George School District or McBride says Joel Zahn, Grade 4-7 teacher. He will be teaching at McBride next year, along with other staff. Enrollment has been roughly 30 students from Kindergarten to Grade 7 for the past decade. This year, the school had two full-time teachers, two parttime teachers, along with TAs and parent helpers. While the school had three split classes parent MacDonald says it made the children stronger in character. “You get the older children playing with younger children. And they’re teaching the younger children without even knowing it. They’re having fun.” “I think it’s important for the children to stay together with the other children they’ve grown up with.” She is one parent who is not not giving up the option of educating her children in Dunster. MacDonald says she plans to home school her children next year. “It’s not an ideal thing at this point, but we really feel like we’ve got no options,” she says. “I have a lot of family here and that’s what we plan to do is to exchange and trade and share. I think it’s our only hope at this point.” She says family members have volunteered one day per week to teach a group of children locally. “It is amazing. I think they’ve seen what this type of an education or a lifestyle that this school has provided.” She and her husband brought their children to Dunster partly due to the presence of family and partly due to the good school. “We realized the city was not for raising children,” she says. “I asked my daughter, ‘Carrie, where do you want to go to school?’ She wants to stay here as long as she can. To me, that’s fine. I can provide that.”
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Visit our website for ongoing coverage! From left clockwise: Dunster students sing a farewell song at the 94-year celebration last week. Raphael Rauter, Daniel Haaf and Sean Dempsey stand with community members for a group photo outside the school. Carrie MacDonald and sister Iris wait for the potluck to begin. Owen Williamson waits for the cutting of the cake. Rachel Baker, 17, and Terri Lewis looking at an old memory book with photos from past years. Baker went to Dunster from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Two of Lewis’ children attended Dunster school this year. Photos by Laura Keil
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New regional park proposed for Valemount area Local groups aim to convert old garbage dump into scenic picnic stop Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com A group of citizens is aiming land bounded to the south to build a new park in Vale- by the protected areas of the mount out of an old dump site. marsh, to the north by McKThe new park would span some irdy Road, to the west by Aspen 15-20 hectares along McKirdy Road, and to the east by private Road along the north side of property. the Starratt Marsh, which alVan Velzen says the next step ready connects to the 6-km is to get the land designated trail system that encircles the as a regional park. The area is marsh. already ear-marked in the ReWayne Van Velzen, one of the gional District of Fraser-Fort people pushing for the park, George’s draft regional parks says the land is in a valuable plan for 2010-2020. Van Velzen location as it is a sheltered site says the idea would be for comand affords the best view of the munity members to partner marsh and Canoe Mountain. with the Village, the District, “It’s always been a very popu- the Chamber of Commerce lar site,” he says. “People have and the other stakeholders to used it for years develop and fund “The more things we the park. The site is and years.” The potential to can put on the ‘Things Crown land adjaretain tourists is to do menu’ for folks, cent to a provincial also an incentive, the longer they’ll hope- Wildlife Managefully stay in the Valley.” ment Area. he says. Wayne Van Velzen, The trail that fun“The more things we can put on the park proposal. nels hikers along on the ‘Things to Aspen and 17th do menu’ for folks, the longer Avenues will continue along they’ll hopefully stay in the Val- the road, not over the marsh. ley.” “There’s little or no way a trail The park would reclaim an old can be built in the marsh here. dump site, which was capped It’s really fragile habitat,” Van in the 1970s. The site is already Velzen says. “The expense of used for dog walking, picnick- doing it with any boardwalk ing, launching canoes into the system would be outrageous.” marsh and for skating in the The marsh complex allows winter. Potential upgrades in- visitors to view many species of clude interpretative signs, a birds and other wildlife and is heated log shelter for skating the only viable location on the in the winter, two pump-out pit marsh to launch a canoe, the toilets, picnic tables, a tobog- draft parks plan notes. The site ganing hill, bear-proof garbag- is already used for this purpose es and benches. There should with no discernible negative beparking for 12 to 15 vehicles. impact on the bird and wildlife The proposed site is Crown populations, according to the
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draft plan. If increased canoe traffic were to affect nesting birds, then boats would not be allowed on the water during nesting season. The park may eventually be used as a location for events such as the Valemount Bird Festival and the Valemount Winter Festival according to preliminary plans. The regional district has given a high priority marking to the potential proposal for McKirdy Park. The Integrated Land Management Bureau and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands are also supportive of the concept, Van Velzen says. “Canoe View” looking south, south east, and south west. If it is approved as a regional park, he says proponents would develop a conceptual plan in conjunction with Valemount’s Economic Development Officer Silvio Gislimberti. Funding could come from the Room Tax Authority since Valemount is a Resort Community. BC Parks would be willing to assist with planning and site development with respect to facility plans, specifications and standards. If the proposal is accepted by the regional district board, the next step would be to apply to the Province for a Crown grant or long-term lease for the property.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
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New upgrades for Valemount Fire Hall Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
The Valemount Fire Hall is getting a face-lift this summer, the first phase of a project that will add a water hose tower, garage, back laneway and women’s washrooms, which will be installed for the first time to replace the co-ed washrooms. The offices and training classroom will be expanded by 240 square feet, as the office currently houses three desks, with one chair preventing the office door from closing. “The biggest issue is there isn’t enough room,” Valemount fire chief Rick Lalonde says. “We have a larger crew now.” The first phase of construction will add a 30-foot by 80-foot section and last several months, says Donna Munt manager of public safety for the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. The cost of
the first phase is just over $202,000; the second phase will upgrade the electrical, mechanical and plumbing; the third phase may be the insulation and vapour barrier, and the fourth phase would be painting and other minor upgrades. The Fire Hall building was completed in 1984, before highway rescue was added as a mandate for the fire squad in Valemount, Munt says. “They are operating two services out of a location that originally operated only one service.” This way they can minimize costs for both services by running them out of the same building. Lalonde says right now they lay the wet hose on the floor to dry, meaning the hose is out of service temporarily and they must have additional hose on
standby. The hose tower will allow them to hang up the hose and dry it faster in the tower, which will be outfitted with fans. He says the building design also fits in with the Village’s theme. “It takes the box look away from it.” He says they can also use the hose tower for rescue training. The renovations will allow the fire hall to save money as well, he says, since the electrical heating system will be replaced by a high-efficiency water boiler. The truck bay has to be kept at about 18 degrees. Lalonde says he anticipates they will heat the whole building plus the addition for the same cost as now, which is about $14,000 a year. Comments? e-mail lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
Photo: Laura Keil
Valemount Fire Chief Rick Lalonde examines illustrations of the fire hall upgrades which have already begun.
Kinbasket re-vegetation project underway again this year Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
A project geared to re-vegetate Kinbasket Lake and Arrow Lake Reservoir is underway again this year, with the aim to attract wildlife and insects. Jen Walker-Larsen, spokesperson with B.C. Hydro, says the idea is to re-plant in the drawdown zone, the area where water drains and fills each year. The program is being delivered under the Columbia River Water Use Plan, a suite of monitoring programs and projects developed by a committee of Columbia Basin stakeholders. They hope to benefit non-power interests including fisheries, wildlife, vegetation, recreation, and archaeology. BC Hydro began the re-vegetation project in 2008, what is mandated as a five-year plan. The program is supposed to benefit fish and wildlife as well as improve aesthetics, dust control and recreation. In Kinbasket Reservoir, the planting
work has largely focused in the Canoe Reach area near Valemount and Bush Arm area at the Golden end. Walker-Larsen says BC Hydro is experimenting with a number of different planting and fertilization techniques in reservoir drawdown zones. Last year in Kinbasket Reservoir they planted over 193,821 sedge seedlings over 19 hectares. Over 3.7 hectares of live of stakes and shrub seedlings were also planted. In addition to these, they also planted over 14 hectares of seeds, and fertilized 10 hectares. More planting work was carried out this year. All shrubs and sedge plants used in the planting program have been grown from locally-collected seeds or stakes,
Walker-Larsen says. BC Hydro is also conducting a monitoring program to assess whether the planting program provides the expected benefits to wildlife. Field crews this summer are currently working to collect a second year of baseline data to determine wildlife use of the drawdown zone. This study will periodically moni-
Photo courtesy of BC Hydro
tor insects, small mammals, and ungulates to determine whether patterns of wildlife change as the planted sites grow and establish. Below: Hilde and Willem Van Basten Batenburg enjoy the view along Highway 5 while waiting for daughter Mashall and friend Noor Holsboer to arrive from Vancouver on their cross-Canada cycling trip.
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After surviving an abusive childhood, a divorce and much sorrow, The Camping Queen finally found her calling can venture out and make a friend. You can do it.’” Little says she doesn’t take any chances when it comes to safety. She sticks to the national parks, which are clean, well-maintained, and populated. For her, nature is a safe place. In the city she feels restrained. “It’s like a plant in a pot and the roots are cracking the pot and I need to get out.” Little has seen 39 of 58 national parks in the U.S. so far – her goal is to see them all and finish the book she is writing about them. Her next goal is to travel from East to West through Canada working on organic farms. After that, she wants to venture into Europe. She says she has come a long way in the past five years. “I feel whole again. I feel happy. I don’t feel I gotta have a man. I’m waiting for the right man to come and if he doesn’t come along, then at least I’m enjoying myself, seeing the places I’ve always wanted to see.” You can follow Susan’s travels at her blog www.thecampingqueen.blogspot. com.
Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com Last week, The Camping Queen rolled through Jasper and Valemount. That’s what Susan Little calls herself on her blog, anyway. The 55-year-old San Diego native is on a pilgrimage through all of America’s 58 National Parks, camping in rain, wind and pitch darkness on her own as she writes a book documenting the parks. It is also a personal journey, one that began from a childhood of abuse, an unfaithful husband, public divorce, and a life lived in the shadow of other people. “I had a very small existence,” she said last week at a stop-over in a café in Valemount on her way to Clearwater and then Vancouver. “I have found a real deep connection with the natural world, and I find that when I’m in it I feel whole and safe.” In 2005 she started travelling by herself. She stuffed a duffel bag of camping gear into her Subaru, along with her guitar, maps and a compact point-andshoot. For safety she carried bear spray and a knife. The first trip became one of a series of healing treks into the wilderness. She says she had a lot of sorrow in her life. “I was abused as a child – really seriously abused. My marriage fell apart; my husband was unfaithful. I’d sort of put all my hopes into him. Because my dad was so abusive I thought my husband would never hurt me, but he did. I was pretty devastated and I couldn’t get any better. I kept trying and trying and kept crying. I could hardly work.” Then she remembered how much she had enjoyed camping with her aunt in Yellowstone when she was a child and got the courage to take a trip alone. She planned her first trip for many months, took some money out of her retirement fund and went on the road for six months. “Each day I got better. I felt closer to God. I felt connected with the natural world.” She says her therapist had told her it’s a big world. She should explore. But her life had long been ruled by fear and living in the shadow of her husband, who was a pastor. “I was terrified to go see it by myself. I didn’t know if people would accept me just by myself. And that is the most important thing I’ve learned, is that I am a person, I am a woman, and I am acceptable just by myself.”
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Photo: Laura Keil Susan Little has been taking trips by herself to north america’s national parks since 2005. She started her blog The Camping Queen in 2007.
When she first saw the Grand Tetons says. In Great Sand Dunes National in Grand Teton National Park in Wyo- Park, she met an 80-year-old woman ming she says she felt challenged by the sliding down a sand dune. scenery. “She said ‘I need to slide down when “They are so rugged and so wild and I can’t walk.’” so magnificent and I just was dwarfed,” The most recent leg of her journey she says. “I didn’t understand. I had to began in Calgary. She travelled through run and hide from it, it was so power- Banff, visited Johnston Canyon, and ful.” spent a couple nights in Jasper. She compares the expeShe says her goal is to rience to astronauts who “It’s like a plant in a pot and inspire other women to look down on earth. the roots are cracking the begin the same journey “You are so small and pot and I need to get out.” she has. this is so large, but you “Women my age they Susan Little are important. That’s tend to feel they’re all kind of a freaky feeling.” washed up. They can’t Little started her Camping Queen blog go out and do these things. They don’t in 2007 after people asked how they fol- have a husband. They’re not going to aclow her travels. She updates with photos complish anything. They’re just sitting and information about the parks. around. And I’m thinking, ‘You can get The people she has encountered have out. You can get in your car, go to your been as important as the scenery, she local places, you can join a club. You
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Business Watch Valemount’s Swiss Bakery changes hands Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com After a decade of waking up before 4 a.m., serving people from around the world and keeping their recipes a secret, Manfred and Natalia Zumbrunn are placing Valemount’s Swiss Bakery into new hands. Come July 1st, the bakery will belong to Silvia Jungo and Bogdan Wasaznik, a couple who recently moved from Edmonton to take over the business. “They’re young, full of energy, full of ideas,” Natalia says. But after all the years, she says Manfred is hesitant to see it go. “It’s his child and he’s nervous about all this. But that’s it: his time is over.” Manfred was in the bakery kitchen last week, busy as ever. “There’s another one,” he says, pointing to a motor home pulling up to the front. “There’s another one. There’s another one,” he continues, as more motor homes pull up and people enter the store. At 65, Manfred says while he will no longer have to cater to the ever-busy bakery, he will continue to bake on the side. He grew up in the Alps in Switzerland where he helped out with his family’s store, and began baking as a teenager. “He cannot stop,” Natalia says. “He’ll bake as a hobby.” Manfred purchased the bakery property 10 years ago, when it was still the old post office. After many renovations, including a new roof, it became the building that now stands on Main Street. “People stop here from all over,” Manfred says. He developed all the recipes himself. “They stop for world-famous strudel, stollen, home-made bread.”
Corrections:
Issue 1, Tuesday June 08 2010, “Interview with Jeannette Townsend”. Funding for GPS and Light systems at the airport was provided by the Provincial Government, not the Federal Governemnt. Issue 2, Tuesday June 22 2010, “Valemount Senior Housing...” Bobbi Roe is Administrator of the Valemount Senior Citizen’s Housing Committee. Jim Stewart is Chairman.
Above: One of Valemount’s old post offices. After much hard work, Manfred and Natalia’s bakery. Right: Manfred mixing bread dough. Bottom: Passing the torch. Manfred and Natalia Zumbrunn with the new owners, Silvia Jungo and Bogdan Wasaznik.
But he insists he’s not retiring. “I’m just going to bake from another place.” Jungo and Wasaznik plan to continue with the same recipes, but will add washrooms and will start making cinnamon buns. Wasaznik baked in Germany for six years, then for Costco for 20 years – doing a lot of baking for smaller bakeries. Jungo is from Switzerland ad Wasaznik is from Poland, but both moved to Canada many years ago. They would meet in Valemount, as it was halfway between Edmonton and Kelowna, where each was staying. They say their goal with the bakery is to keep making people happy. Photos: Laura Keil, Manfred Zumbrunn
Closing Down: Valemount Sporting and Clothing
Photo: Laura Keil
Another business is shutting down on Valemount’s 5th Avenue. Janet Kunka, who has owned the store with her husband Nester Kunka for 10 years, says shutting the store down was a difficult decision. “It’s very trying times right now,” she says. “With there being no economy here all the young families are moving away.” She says part of the issue is not knowing whether there is anything in the works to bring families back. The store has been in Valemount at least 40 years, she says. They will shut down the store permanently at the end of August.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
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This ain’t no logging show! Crazy Horse now serves ice cream The highway along McBride will not be as dry or grey a place now that logging contractors Kevin Taphorn and his uncle Melvin Taphorn have opened their ice cream stand next to the Husky. “It is a bleeding heart effort diversify our company” says Taphorn. The ice cream business is still going to be part of “Crazy Horse Contracting Ltd.” The shaded stand is adjacent to a treed picnic area, colourful deck chairs, and hammocks. Kevin says he saw a need for a place for people to stop and relax as they drove along the highway. They used materials from McBride builders and suppliers, and will be installing information on how to contact each local business, if someone is interested in stone work, carving, or concrete, for example. They serve hard and soft Foothills ice cream, hot dogs, milkshakes, and subs, among other things. Photos: Laura Keil
Canoe Mountain Restaurant re-opens
The Canoe Mountain Restaurant is getting a different personality this summer with its new owners. Barbara and Steve Kelly have re-opened the 5th Avenue business in Valemount as a fast-food cafe with 27 flavours of scooped ice cream, hot dogs and other quick treats. By mid-July they will be fully stocked to offer foot-long hot dogs, pizza by the slice and ... wait for it .. smoked salmon. Homesmoked, no less. Their children Johnathan and Liz will also work behind the counter. The restaurant encompasses an old trapper’s cabin that is near a century old.
Twin Peaks Resort changes hands
A family from Edmonton has taken the wheel of the Twin Peaks Resort in Valemount. Donna and Alexandre Hamilton visited the resort two years ago while vacationing in the area. Donna was a dental assistant for a holistic dentist. Alexandre teaches at NATE in trades. Between the two of them, they have five children between the ages of 12 and 19. They arrived last week to begin running the campground, cabins and lodge. They plan to expand the campground and eventually perform marriage ceremonies on the side of the mountain.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Upcoming events from around the valley. Celebrate Canada Day! July 1, 2010 Mount Robson Provincial Park All events will take place at the Visitor Information Centre 10:00 am – 3:00 pm: Wildlife Nature Walk– Test your knowledge of Mt Robson, on our ½ km self guided interpretive trail 10:00 am – 3:00 pm: Local Artisan Fair – Local Artists will be displaying their art 11:30 am – 1:00 pm: R.C.M.P. – In attendance for photo opportunities, wearing traditional “Red Serge” 11:30 am – 1:00 pm: Jerry The Moose – Have your picture taken with Jerry or just give him a big hug. 12:00 pm: National Anthem 12:00 pm: Cake, Coffee & Tea – Free cake and beverages for visitors Visit the Info Centre for your FREE Canada Day Souvenir. Canada Day Events at Valemount Museum 11am – 3pm 11 am–12:30 pm: Face painting and Family Scavenger Hunt 12:00 pm–2:00 pm Hotdogs for Sale 1:00 pm Cake cutting by Mayor and R.C.M.P 1:30 pm–3 pm Old Time Music (bring your own instrument) Show N Shine July 1 11am – 1pm at the Valemount Museum The Old English Car Club will be park along Main Street by the Museum. The Show N Shine will end at 1:15 pm
Briefs
Friday night jams at The Gathering Tree Cafe in Valemount. Come on out to play or listen starting at 7:00pm Submit your community event at lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
Below: Rob Morley, Gary Traub, Collin John, Byron Hoeller, Dustin Olson, Clint Meek, Ken Seime, Ryan Smith, Super Dave Fry, Kevin Clark, Chris Hoodicoff, Wayne Nazaroff are working at TransAlta’s Bone Creek hydro project near Blue River, but are shuttled back to the Valemount area every evening where they live or stay.
SMALLER CAMPFIRES COME INTO EFFECT CANADA DAY New regulations that shrink the size of legal campfires will come into effect July 1, 2010 in an effort to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires. Pat Bell, Minister of Forests and Range, says more than 850 fires resulted from careless human behaviour in 2009. “That number must come down,” said Bell. “We want people to enjoy the great outdoors, but not at the cost of public safety.” Under the new regulations, campfires cannot be larger than 0.5 metres in height and 0.5 metres in diameter, or approximately a foot-and-a-half by a foot-and-a-half. Previously, campfires were permitted to a maximum size of one-metre by one-metre. The new rules also require campers to build a fireguard around their fires by scraping down to the dirt and clearing away potentially flammable debris, such as twigs, leaves and needles. A shovel or at least eight litres of water must be stored nearby to extinguish the fire. Provincial staff will begin educating campers about the new regulations during the Canada Day long weekend, giving people an opportunity to learn about the changes. As summer progresses, failure to comply with the new rules will result in a $345 fine. An additional $345 fine will be levied for campfires lit during a ban. “Make no mistake. If we catch people
Photo: Laura Keil
being careless and causing wildfires this summer, we will aggressively pursue penalties for those responsible,” said Bell. “The message we want to deliver is that we take wildfires seriously – and so should you.” An advertising campaign has been launched to reinforce the province’s zero tolerance for people who start wildfires. A new website, www.firesafebc.ca, is also available that encapsulates all provincial information related to wildfire activity, campfire bans, health advisories and evacuation orders. Since April 1, fire crews have responded to 310 fires across the province, of which 260 were human-caused. Anyone who causes a wildfire through arson or recklessness can be fined up to $1 million or spend three years on prison. To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call *5555 on your cellphone, or toll-free 1 800 663-5555.
Photo: Laura Keil
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
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Valemount Secondary School Awards
Coming next week: McBride Secondary Awards night
VALEMOUNT SECONDARY AWARDS - JUNE 16, 2010 VSS Cultural Awards Group - None Individual - Carey Newby Athletic Awards - Grade 8 Girl - Hannah van der Roest Grade 8 Boy- no award Grade 9 Girl- Kaylie Byford Grade 9 Boy - Linden Salayka-Ladouceur Grade 10 Girl - Linnaea VanderZwan, Rebecca Lerch Grade 10 Boy - no award Senior Girl- Nina Grigat Senior Boy- William VanderZwan Coaches Award – Alana Duncan Most Improved- Grade 8 Dillon Knelsen Grade 9 no award Grade 10 Jake Clancy Grade 11 Amber Stroomer Grade 12 Britney Stone Most Improved Student/R.C.M.P.- Britney Stone Effort Award - Winner Kelly Roy Runner-Up Kelsey Griffin, Hannah van der Roest Citizenship Junior - Linden Salayka Ladouceur Jurior Runner-Up Rebecca Lerch Senior - Meetul Patel Runner-Up Kate Soucy Sandy MacLean Citizenship Award - Meetul Patel Scholarship - Grade 8 Hannah van der Roest Grade 9 Linden Salayka-Ladouceur Grade 10 Linnaea VanderZwan Grade 11 Logan Salayka-Ladouceur Grade 12 no award Best All Around Student -
William VanderZwan
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
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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. Post your non-profit event announcement for free on our website! Just go to “Community Submitted News.”
Used Building Materials Hanging propane shop heater for sale. Listed as 65,000 BTU. Comes with mounting bracket. Will consider any offer! Call Joe 250-566-1444. 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 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 250-5661444 Varying lengths of florescent light fixtures for sale. Will consider any offer! Call Joe 250-566-1444 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
Plain Talk Horoscopes By Craig Elder, M.A. Economics
Wanted Wanted: Chairs Call Laura 250-566-5135.
Equipment Tank 500 gal. single-wall fuel tank. Asking $200. Call 250-566-5069, ask for Jared
You See? It Works! Place Your Ad Here
Be the first to sponsor the $2 classified ads! Let The Rocky Mountain Goat assist your business with targeted marketing ideas. Exclusive 2.25 inches high by a whole page width at the bottom of the calssified page for $100/week
Aries: Today is a bad day to be honest. Taurus: When confronted by a problem, just do
what you did last time, it probably worked. Gemini: No one understands you today, switch back to English. Cancer: Success is coming your way, best start looking down on people now so you get the hang of it. Leo: You should flip your mattress soon Virgo: Your feelings of being forgotten will fade this week. Libra: Don’t do what others want of you, maybe they’ll still like you. Scorpio:Your emotions will get the better of you and make you completely irrational. Sagittarius: The pieces of your master plan are coming into place. Capricorn: If you talk to people they will think things about what you said. Aquarius: Leading with your heart may bring you heartache, best to just live a cold lonely life. Pieces: You have the courage to follow your dreams, you just can’t remember them.
The Rocky Mountain Goat is distributed free weekly Office: 1070, 5th Avenue, Valemount British Columbia
Laura Keil
Telephone: (250) 566-4606 E-mail: jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com, or lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com Web-site: www.therockymountaingoat.com Mail Address: Box 21, Valemount BC, V0E 2Z0
Co-Owner Editor/Reporter lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
Joseph Nusse
Co-Owner Publisher/Sales jnusse@therrockymountaingoat.com
The Rocky Mountain Goat is produced and distributed by ‘The Rocky Mountain Goat News’ and is subject to copyright. Reproduction, or distribution of any article, photo, or other content must recieve prior consent from Joseph Nusse (Co-Owner/ Publisher) or Laura Keil (Co-Owner/Editor).
Illustrations by Luke Siemens
The Rocky Mountain Goat is a free distribution newspaper serving a population base of approximately 4,000 residents from Blue River and Valemount, to McBride and Dome Creek.
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www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
A11
The Goat Congratulates the McBride Secondary Class of 2010
Grad photos continued on back page...
Congratulations McBride Class of 2010 from...
Robson Valley Home Hardware 256 Main Street, McBride BC
Congratulations McBride Secondary Class of 2010! from The Rocky Mountain Goat
All graduation photos: Laura Keil Names in alphabetical order: Georgia Betkus, Kyle Betkus, Ellise Bressette, Megan Harstad, Paislee Hickerty, Sherry Kelly, Spencer Kimpton, Chantel Kozachenko, Robert Miles, Mathue Miskie, Erich Monroe, Jordan Neal, Kaylee Pawlyszyn, Anya Richter, Mark Roth, Logan Roussel, Danielle Rowley, Craig Ryan, Justin Starlund, Matthew Vogel, Amy von der Gonna, Alysse Weedmark.
Visit www.therockymountaingoat.com for more photos
Gardening with Pete Peter Amyoony Special to the Goat
Pruning tomatoes is akin to pulling teeth for some gardeners, but don’t worry, the first thirty years is the worst!! (Just kidding!) First I want to define some terms so we are all speaking the same language: STEM – The main stalk of the plant. SUCKER - The branches that grow in the axil of the leaves. AXIL – The point where the leaf joins the stem. DETERMINATE TOMATO – This is the shorter bush type plant. Flower clusters grow on the ends of the stems and suckers. Usually grow 1 to 3 feet high. INDETERMINATE TOMATO – Vine tomato, which can grow 6, 10, or 50 feet! Flower clusters grow out of the stem and the stem keeps on growing. SEMI-DETERMINATE – Have some characteristics of both of the above. (Just to mix us up!) FRUIT SPUR – The stem of flowers, which will become tomatoes. It is best to check on the seed package or ask your bedding plant grower if you have a bush or vine tomato. Once the fruit spurs begin to form, you can check it out for yourself. A vine tomato has a fruit spur, three or more leaves, and then another fruit spur. If there are less than three leaves between fruit spurs, you have a bush tomato. FOR BUSH TOMATOES – I prune out the first
two or three suckers and then let the plant grow. This seems to get the fruit up off the ground a bit so there is less rot and disease. If the bush plant gets too thick in mid summer so no sun is reaching the middle of the plant, then I thin out a few more suckers and leaves to encourage ripening. I stake or train all my tomatoes to hold the fruit off the ground. (Slugs, mice and voles seem to like tomatoes as much as we do.) FOR VINE TOMATOES – I prune them to a single stem and train them up a twine to a height of 6 feet. From the time they are 6 – 8 inches high, I prune off all suckers so all that is left is a single stem with leaves and fruit spurs. Once the fruit is set (small tomatoes where the flowers were) I prune off all leaves below that spur. When the second spur sets fruit, I remove the leaves below it too. By mid-summer, the vine tomatoes are 6 feet tall with 3 to 6 spurs of fruit on a bare stem with a canopy of leaves at the top of the plant. These leaves manufacture the food to feed the tomatoes and also shade the tomatoes from sunscald. The filtered sunlight and warm air moving around the fruit help to ripen them. Some gardeners leave all the leaves on the plant to help the plant manufacture more food. You can try using both methods and see which works the best for you, but be sure to remove all the suckers from between the main stem and the leaves.
From mid-August on, I pinch off all new flowers, as most of these won’t have time to develop into decent size fruit. I find it best to let the plant direct its energy into ripening the fruit that is already there. The main things to watch out for are: 1. Too many leaves usually give you less fruit 2. Too few leaves give you sunscald on the fruit and can’t produce food for the tomatoes. 3. Pinch or cut the suckers and leaves with a sharp blade being careful not to tear or rip the stem. 4. Prune suckers and old leaves every week. 5. Don’t be afraid to prune! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call.
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. Got a comment? Write us: lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
The Rocky Mountaing Goat is now available weekly on Wednesdays. Next issue: July 07, 2010