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Rossland Energy Diet goes viral across Kootenays

by Andrew Bennett on 30 May 2013
in
Rossland's Michelle Laurie and her son Ira pose for a Kootenay Energy Diet promotional. Credit: Shawn Talbot Photography
The enormously successful Rossland Energy Diet pilot project has spawned the Kootenay Energy Diet as Fortis BC now pounds regional pavement to drum up municipal support and homeowner interest in a slough of rebates and other incentives to improve the energy efficiency of residential and business buildings.
 
Pictured above, Rossland’s Michelle Laurie participated in the 2012 Rossland Energy Diet, and now her beaming son Ira is,

Idle no more: handicap parking re-jigged as council stomps butts

by Andrew Bennett on 30 May 2013
in
Idle no more: handicap parking re-jigged as council stomps butts
The final steps to conclude the downtown renovations will include new blue and yellow curb paint, new signs, and perhaps some ashtrays will abut council's decision in April to not prohibit smoking in public areas.
 
On the heels of Monday's committee-of the whole decision to purchase the street furniture as originally laid out by ISL architects and city staff, the discussion turned to other streetscape de

Ore cart and all, protracted downtown furniture debate ends where it began

by Andrew Bennett on 30 May 2013
in
The "Mountain Classic Park Bench MCB-5" (a.k.a. Bench A) coming to a downtown near you...
After stalling the purchase of more than $100,000 in street furniture to top off the downtown renovations that began this time last year, council decided the idea of swapping in some pieces made by local artisans—as suggested two months ago by Coun.

COMMENT: Free Range! Organic! Local! Or none of the above...

by Andrew Bennett on 24 May 2013
in
COMMENT: Free Range! Organic! Local! Or none of the above...

Are you jaded yet? When you pick up a box at the store and read "natural," does that roll-the-eyes impulse tickle your oculomotor nerves? Sure does mine, a right twitch.

Broadband initiative needs council approval as deadlines fast approach

by Andrew Bennett on 16 May 2013
in
Broadband initiative needs council approval as deadlines fast approach

The Broadband Task Force reported to council on Monday evening that broadband Internet holds great promise for Rossland's future competitiveness, but council must act before May 28 to proceed with the plan.

Rossland's new sister: Surnadal, Norway, birthplace of Olaus Jeldness

by Andrew Bennett on 16 May 2013
in
Mayor Greg Granstrom and a gift to Surnadal—a moose antler carved with the City of Rossland coat of arms

Following on the (free) heels of an enormously successful 116th Winter Carnival in which the new bronze statue of Olaus Jeldness in downtown Rossland was feted by hundreds of merrymakers—including Olaus lookalikes, visiting Norwegian dignitaries, and descendants of Olaus himself—the City of Rossland and the municipality of Surnadal, Norway, have decided to tie the knot.

HE SAID SHE SAID: Public outcry pushes for sustainability, but council digs in its core service heels

by Andrew Bennett on 09 May 2013
in
HE SAID SHE SAID: Public outcry pushes for sustainability, but council digs in its core service heels

Following council’s five hour debate on the entire budget on May 1, council was forced to pause the financial plan blitz for twenty minutes on May 6 to hear nine members of the public oppose the only major cut: approximately $20,000 axed from the Sustainability Commission (SC), terminating their paid coordinator with no transition plan in place.

The May 1 meeting was open to the public but was not publicized, so only the Telegraph and the library manager were there to witness the debate, recorded in six articles:

COMMENT: Financial Plan passes with no hint of public consultation, or thought

by Andrew Bennett on 09 May 2013
in
Mayor Granstrom last year: "The numbers speak for themselves..."

Council approved the 2013-2017 financial plan (FP) on Wednesday morning, just one week after the bulk of debate was completed in a single unpublicized meeting on May 1. 

Downtown trash cans and more uncanned, but recanning remains possible

by Andrew Bennett on 09 May 2013
in
Jody Blomme: "OMG! Our downtown's going to look like the patio of an A&W!"

Council has decided to reinstate the downtown furniture budget that it had put on hold last year. The $108,000 line item includes benches, but also bike racks, recycling bins, bear-proof garbage containers, and the eclectic but contentious ore cart.

Council's decision, however, stipulates that city staff will return to council for final authorization prior to making any furniture purchases. Coun. Kathy Wallace had previously raised the idea of hiring local artisans to build some of the items, for example the benches, instead of buying pre-fabricated items from a catalogue.

ANALYSIS: The elephant in an almost-empty Miners’ Hall

by Adrian Barnes on 09 May 2013
in
ANALYSIS: The elephant in an almost-empty Miners’ Hall

Last night a whopping 28 Rosslanders showed up at the Rossland Chamber of Commerce/Rossland Telegraph-sponsored all candidates’ forum at the Miners’ Hall, most of them the sort of highly-engaged and informed locals who regularly play their parts in the life of this community and all of whom entered the room last night with a well-developed sense of who they’ll vote for and who they’ll not. So not much was accomplished.

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