Thursday, April 30, 2009
Roasted by Swine Flu
Sick day
Not feeling so hot.
I tried to phone the Health Canada Swine Flu Helpline several times this morning, but all I got was crackling......
Not feeling so hot.
I tried to phone the Health Canada Swine Flu Helpline several times this morning, but all I got was crackling......
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Marc his words
The Haney Noser
Radio Haney is not sure what comes as less of a surprise; the email itself or the reaction from the NDP.
Overheard by Radio Haney on Fraser Street:
First guy: "Mary Robson ran as a women for the Liberals."
Second guy:"Yeah, but Marc Dalton runs like a woman."
Radio Haney is not sure what comes as less of a surprise; the email itself or the reaction from the NDP.
Overheard by Radio Haney on Fraser Street:
First guy: "Mary Robson ran as a women for the Liberals."
Second guy:"Yeah, but Marc Dalton runs like a woman."
This is not the Maple Ridge I want to live in
Man dies after brutal attack in Maple Ridge
RCMP searching for suspects
Jim Goddard MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS1130) Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 8:49 pm The RCMP say a man beaten up Sunday evening in Maple Ridge died of his injuries on Monday.
Police say 55-year-old Donald Hooker was attacked at a Shell service station on Dewdney Trunk Road after getting into an argument with a group of young people. The police say the attack was very aggressive and Hooker was struck in the head. Several people who saw what happened are being questioned. Mounties say the attack has no gang connections and police are looking for suspects.
RCMP searching for suspects
Jim Goddard MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS1130) Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 8:49 pm The RCMP say a man beaten up Sunday evening in Maple Ridge died of his injuries on Monday.
Police say 55-year-old Donald Hooker was attacked at a Shell service station on Dewdney Trunk Road after getting into an argument with a group of young people. The police say the attack was very aggressive and Hooker was struck in the head. Several people who saw what happened are being questioned. Mounties say the attack has no gang connections and police are looking for suspects.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Three little pigs deny charges
Rumours run amok in gangland circles in the Fraser Valley that the Bacon brothers had a role in the recent Swine Flu outbreak. Family spokesman Eddie Rindfleisch accused the media of telling 'porkies'.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Here's a job for our MLAs
Once the election is over and the BS is put to bed I'd suggest we put our new MLAs in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Mission to work on solving the problem of slowing down traffic on the Haney Bypass. I know, I know - a Bypass is designed to speed things up not slow them down, but thr fact of the matter is that the Haney Bypass is a death-trap. Not only are the users of bypass at risk, but those attempting to cross it are more so at risk. Speak to anyone who has to enter the bypass anywhere along its course.
Or speak to those people who have to cross it on foot.
Speak to the clients of the Maple Ridge Treatment Centre who are forced to cross it all day. Watching them run across the bypass to avoid traffic is reminicent of a day in Rome watching the slaves and gladiators.
Two days ago another victim fell to the Haney Bypass. This piece of road needs rethinking.
Or speak to those people who have to cross it on foot.
Speak to the clients of the Maple Ridge Treatment Centre who are forced to cross it all day. Watching them run across the bypass to avoid traffic is reminicent of a day in Rome watching the slaves and gladiators.
Two days ago another victim fell to the Haney Bypass. This piece of road needs rethinking.
"A young motorcyclist was killed Tuesday evening after losing control of his bike and crashing into a lamp standard in Maple Ridge.Just after 7 p.m., a 27-year-old Ridge man was heading eastbound when the incident occurred in the 11700 Block of the Haney Bypass.The man was taken by ambulance to Ridge Meadows Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.Police, fire and ambulance all attended the scene.The intersection was closed for approximately three hours while the RCMP's Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section investigated.This is not the first time a fatal collision has occurred on the bypass.In March 2007, a bicyclist was killed after being struck by a vehicle in the 22400 Block of the Haney Bypass.And in a similar incident in August 2007, another cyclist was killed crossing the bypass near 225th after being hit by a Jeep.The investigation into Tuesday's incident is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asking to contact Const. Redhead of the Ridge Meadows RCMP Traffic Services at 604-463-6251.At his family's request, the name of the victim has not been released."
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The British Columbia Provincial Election of 2009
Truthfully? OK, truthfully I meant to write a piece on this blog about the forthcoming provincial election some time ago. And as time went by I found it harder and harder to get into the spirit of things. Distracted, as I am by almost everything that moves in world affairs, I found it hard to focus on what was happening on my doorstep. And now that the Canucks seem to be rolling towards a 4-0 slam dunk of the Blues my attention is scattered even further.
Not to say that I have been totally lackadaisical. I did attend the first information night at the Liberal Party headquarters last week. And I did leave with a lawn sign, a button, and a promise to do the rounds on two days with candidate Ken Stewart. I like Ken and I hope he wins; I hope anyone running for the Liberals wins. I am not totally instructed as to why I feel so strongly about the Liberals winning, but I do know that since they have been running the show I have slept better. And my sleep is important to me.
I also know I'll sleep better once the situation at Northumberland Court on Fraser Street has been satisfactorily resolved and that the poor people who have had to endure the hardships of living under the negligence of slumbowow Jack the Lad will be soon be free to live like normal, protected human beings. In this vein we managed to pull off a neat little all-candidates meeting last night in the St Andrews Heritage Church. Organized, as it were, by Tyler Ducharme, we took the opportunity to focus the attention of the candidates on Haney, slack and negligent landlords, the need to keep the West Coast Express station open in Haney as shutting it would fly in the face of all that is logical, public transport sensible and sustainable.
Some good ideas came forward from most of the candidates. It is a shame though that the good ideas are often lost on the crowd owing to a singular lack of passion. No passion in local politics, none in provincial and even less in the federal arena. Canada's politics seems marked by frigid disinterest, raising only mild interest from those who have chosen the political path as a career or those others who have the misfortune to report and comment on politics here. None the less, one goes to the polls and does what one does.
How does one make a choice. I decided as I often do to simply vote for the best managers rather than for policies per se. Listening to the candidates it was hard to find anything that they could conceivably disagree on, so I move to the next step in government i.e. can they manage what they propose. I'd say the best managers by a wide margin are the Liberals.
With my 60th birthday looming this summer - and for some time now, perhaps longer than I can to admit - my attention is drawn to those in need. At the top of the list are the mentally disadvantaged. I can think of no group who are more in need of society's attention and care than them. The NDP policy to disentangle itself from the responsibilities of running facilities such as Riverside in Coquitlam is, in my view, unforgivable and being true to my view I can never support this party.
Children and the poor are sequentially second and third on my list of the needy, followed by single parents. And when all is tied together it seems that education is the binder in all this. We must educate with intelligence and I am not sure that we do. We must treat the sick who cannot treat themselves or afford to have others do it for them. Party politics has or should not have any role in the care of the mentally handicapped, children, the poor and the homeless. If ever society needed 'we the people' it is in these areas. Economics, energy, transport, police and the judiciary are fine pawns for the politicos. But to hold the disadvantaged to ransom over politics is disingenuous.
The Green Party are streets ahead of the NDP in morality, but lack sadly in my opinion in capability. In years to come they may find leaders who not only understand the fragility of planet earth, but can find the time to combine this understanding with the practical aspects of government. Green is a wonderful goal, but maketh not society whole.
The reformers, democratic champions, whiners, whingers and some nonesensical groups who choose to run in order to make great talking points and keep us awake during the endless tirade of cliches that we are forced to endure at campaign time are little more than a sideshow.
Lift tickets at Whistler will become magically cheaper and fewer construction cranes will hold court in the downtown of Vancouver.
Trains will glide quietly underground to and froing tourists, immigrants and business people in and out of our communities.
There will be an election - and unless someone comes up with a really bright idea the Liberals will be enjoying a fourth term in office.
Not to say that I have been totally lackadaisical. I did attend the first information night at the Liberal Party headquarters last week. And I did leave with a lawn sign, a button, and a promise to do the rounds on two days with candidate Ken Stewart. I like Ken and I hope he wins; I hope anyone running for the Liberals wins. I am not totally instructed as to why I feel so strongly about the Liberals winning, but I do know that since they have been running the show I have slept better. And my sleep is important to me.
I also know I'll sleep better once the situation at Northumberland Court on Fraser Street has been satisfactorily resolved and that the poor people who have had to endure the hardships of living under the negligence of slumbowow Jack the Lad will be soon be free to live like normal, protected human beings. In this vein we managed to pull off a neat little all-candidates meeting last night in the St Andrews Heritage Church. Organized, as it were, by Tyler Ducharme, we took the opportunity to focus the attention of the candidates on Haney, slack and negligent landlords, the need to keep the West Coast Express station open in Haney as shutting it would fly in the face of all that is logical, public transport sensible and sustainable.
Some good ideas came forward from most of the candidates. It is a shame though that the good ideas are often lost on the crowd owing to a singular lack of passion. No passion in local politics, none in provincial and even less in the federal arena. Canada's politics seems marked by frigid disinterest, raising only mild interest from those who have chosen the political path as a career or those others who have the misfortune to report and comment on politics here. None the less, one goes to the polls and does what one does.
How does one make a choice. I decided as I often do to simply vote for the best managers rather than for policies per se. Listening to the candidates it was hard to find anything that they could conceivably disagree on, so I move to the next step in government i.e. can they manage what they propose. I'd say the best managers by a wide margin are the Liberals.
With my 60th birthday looming this summer - and for some time now, perhaps longer than I can to admit - my attention is drawn to those in need. At the top of the list are the mentally disadvantaged. I can think of no group who are more in need of society's attention and care than them. The NDP policy to disentangle itself from the responsibilities of running facilities such as Riverside in Coquitlam is, in my view, unforgivable and being true to my view I can never support this party.
Children and the poor are sequentially second and third on my list of the needy, followed by single parents. And when all is tied together it seems that education is the binder in all this. We must educate with intelligence and I am not sure that we do. We must treat the sick who cannot treat themselves or afford to have others do it for them. Party politics has or should not have any role in the care of the mentally handicapped, children, the poor and the homeless. If ever society needed 'we the people' it is in these areas. Economics, energy, transport, police and the judiciary are fine pawns for the politicos. But to hold the disadvantaged to ransom over politics is disingenuous.
The Green Party are streets ahead of the NDP in morality, but lack sadly in my opinion in capability. In years to come they may find leaders who not only understand the fragility of planet earth, but can find the time to combine this understanding with the practical aspects of government. Green is a wonderful goal, but maketh not society whole.
The reformers, democratic champions, whiners, whingers and some nonesensical groups who choose to run in order to make great talking points and keep us awake during the endless tirade of cliches that we are forced to endure at campaign time are little more than a sideshow.
A US election this ain't. Not even a Zimbabwean or South African or any other election. We are, in our way, the dullest possible variety of dish water when it comes to politics. Yet our system, for all its minor ittritations and blandness, works. In this gray northwest corner of the continent, our community of wooden houses, hockey games, green soccer fields and the frequent order of a latte puncutated only by the ratatat of yet another gang member removing a competitor from our streets, we seem contentedly relaxed and happy.
The campaign signs will come down, the votes counted. And we will move on. In only a few months the Olympic hullabaloo will be over, the tax payer, licking his wounds will retreat to the flat screen and couch and dial up another pizza meal.
One or two of the car manufacurers will disappear for ever. The recession will only be a memory.
One or two of the car manufacurers will disappear for ever. The recession will only be a memory.
Lift tickets at Whistler will become magically cheaper and fewer construction cranes will hold court in the downtown of Vancouver.
Trains will glide quietly underground to and froing tourists, immigrants and business people in and out of our communities.
There will be an election - and unless someone comes up with a really bright idea the Liberals will be enjoying a fourth term in office.
That's all we can look forward to. Pretty grim, when I come to think of it.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Ron Antalek is a visionary realtor and developer
Northumberland issues have scared off developers TIMES March 27, 2009 All of us, our politicians and District staff included, can be thankful that among our realtor community we have one or two visionary individuals who are prepared to forego the simple 'how can I make buck' in exchange for the 'how can I influence social change' philosophy. Ron Antalek demonstrated this characteristic with his first 18 townhouses on Fraser Street and I am certain that I echo the sentiments of many of us in the community when I wish him well with the successful disposal of and redevelopment of Northumberland Court.
For many years now the District and its advisors have recognized the fundamental importance of insuring that we pass on a sustainable and viable town centre to future generations. Property owners and the District however have allowed a variety of disagreements to stand in the way. This is not what potential investors in Maple Ridge like to see. Property owners, realtors and the District would serve the community far more effectively by working in harmony rather than acrimony.
For my part I hope that Ron Antalek will be viewed as an example of how responsible business people can can work towards realizing our dreams for the town centre. I hope too that other realtors enjoin in his efforts to get Northumberland Court to a point where it is a jewel in the crown of the downtown rather than a thorn our collective sides.
Claus Andrup
Haney
For many years now the District and its advisors have recognized the fundamental importance of insuring that we pass on a sustainable and viable town centre to future generations. Property owners and the District however have allowed a variety of disagreements to stand in the way. This is not what potential investors in Maple Ridge like to see. Property owners, realtors and the District would serve the community far more effectively by working in harmony rather than acrimony.
For my part I hope that Ron Antalek will be viewed as an example of how responsible business people can can work towards realizing our dreams for the town centre. I hope too that other realtors enjoin in his efforts to get Northumberland Court to a point where it is a jewel in the crown of the downtown rather than a thorn our collective sides.
Claus Andrup
Haney
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