US: Grieving father struggles to pay dead son’s student loans
By Marian Wang in ProPublica. A few months after he buried his son, Francisco Reynoso began getting notices in the mail. Then the debt collectors came calling. "They would say, 'We don't care what happened with your son, you have to pay us,'" recalled Reynoso, a gardener from Palmdale, Calif. Reynoso's son, Freddy, had been...
Hang out and save with free laundry line
To help customers conserve energy FortisBC PowerSense plans to again distribute 10,000 laundry lines this summer at community events in Kelowna, the South Okanagan and the Kootenays. “Hanging laundry is a simple and cost effective way to show that you care about the environment and the energy you use,” says Tom Loski, vice ...
POLAND: Football fans clash ahead of Poland-Russia game
Over 180 people were detained due to clashes that broke out between rival Russian and Polish football fans in Warsaw on June 12. Unrest started during the march organised to mark the Russian National Day, attended by thousands of visiting Russian fans ahead of the Poland-Russia Euro 2012 game at the National Stadium. Concern...
Ten years later, Vancouver aquarium celebrates release of Springer, the orphaned killer whale
Ten years ago, Springer (A73), an orphaned killer whale from Canada, brought together scientists, government officials, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens in a dramatic and moving rescue effort. Vancouver Aquarium played an integral role in Springer’s successful rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction back into the ...
ELECTRIC GRAPEVINE: Park 'n ride
The lack of foresight our government has can be absolutely staggering sometimes. Our new currency and the application of it to our daily lives is a prime example of how we operate as a country. Force of habit led me to dumping two shiny 2012 toonies into an already overpriced parking meter the other day before realizing I may...
Council approves higher densities on small lots outside the Infill Zone
Council has adopted a zoning amendment bylaw to give small lots outside the Infill Zone the same parcel coverage and floor area ratios as small lots within the Infill Zone. “Small lots” are defined as less than 550 square metres or 5920 square feet. No residents chose to speak at the public hearing held on Monday evening prior...
City sells sliver of boulevard to allow homeowner to subdivide
Council agreed on Monday evening to sell Tim Manke, owner of 2213 Fourth Ave, a roughly 16-inch by 100-foot strip of city boulevard so his lot will meet the minimum size required for subdivision. The strip runs along the western edge of his lot—the St. Paul side. In return, the city would receive a 3-metre wide snow storage...
Teck ticking along
Teck Trail Operations are busy: they're building a $210 million furnace to triple their electronics recycling capacity, a $125 million acid plant to replace two older ones, and have recently completed a $5.5 million "effluent spill reduction project" that modified 245 locations within their operations and significantly reduced...
Clean, Drain, Dry will help prevent the spread of zebra mussels into the Kootenays
Clean. Drain. Dry. These simple steps will prevent zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species from spreading into the waterways of the Kootenays. Aquatic invasive species, such as zebra mussels, Eurasian water-milfoil and New Zealand mudsnails have devastating impacts where they are introduced. They can ruin fishing and...
Revelstoke firefighters raise money for a great cause
The Monashee Unit Crew launches their 6th annual Firefighters Hard Labour Auction in Revelstoke B.C. Funds raised from this silent auction will be donated to Live It, Love It! a non-profit organization that provides recreation opportunities for individuals with spinal cord injuries. Live It, Love It! is currently working with...
