Sahali Online

Neighbour Notes #10

Did you Know?

Thinking of Installing Solar Heating in Your Home...
The increasingly solid business case and good track record of solar heating is motivating more people to take a look at solar for their homes. An incredible resource in British Columbia is Solar BC. These good folks offer a great deal of information, pointers to incentive programs, and directories of registered solar installers - all for free. The most common installations are solar hot water heating as payback and efficiency for these are more favourable than complete solar heating systems. To contact Solar BC, call 1-866-650-6527 or visit www.solarbc.ca. 

Renter Rights Information
Neighbourhood renters can find out more about their rights and responsibilities by visiting the BC Government's Residential Tenancy Branch web site - http://www.rto.gov.bc.ca/ - or by calling 1-800-665-8779 (be prepared to wait for a while). The Residential tenancy branch provides information on repair responsibility, tenant right to privacy and enjoyment, allowable rent increases, dispute resolution, and much more. Another great resource is the tenancy advocacy organization, the Tenancy Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC). TRAC offers help in many different languages and offers a great deal of useful information. They seem easier to get a hold of as well. Their phone number is 1-800-665-1185 and their web site is http://www.tenants.bc.ca/.

Olympic Connections ?
Do you know any people with connections to the Olympics living in Lower Sahali. Olympians? Former Olympians? Coaches? People who have attended past games? Anybody in the neighbour get to carry the torch? Are you going to attend any events in Vancouver / Whistler / Richmond / etc? Want to submit photos, story idea, stories? Please get in touch - 250 377 1797 or arjun@fullworld.com. 

Council + School Board Update #10

School District Review, School of Arts Secondary School Meeting
The difficult of reconfiguring Kamloops Thompson Schools continues. The Board of Education has been hearing from North Shore parents about reconfiguring elementary schools. Unfortunately, this has caused some sniping between parents of students at Arthur Hatton Elementary and parents of students at John Tod school. Although school trustees probably deserve a raise at this point, they wisely decided to hold off until a more complete comparison with other schools district can be conducted. In the larger Sahali neighbourhood, the District is hosting a public meeting at the Beattie Secondary School of the Arts on Feb 11th, at 7pm. For more info, call the Superintendent's office at 250 374 0679.

City Hall Development Services and Engineering Update 1
David Trawin, City Hall's director of development services and engineering, recently presented his department's 2009 report. The department had reduced staffing levels (mostly through attrition) as they anticipated much reduced workload, but the development activity in the city did not decrease as much as expected. This resulted in some unanticipated delays in processing applications. The department managed to save taxpayer's money (approx $70 000) by not contracting out some planning and design work and, instead, doing this work inhouse. Transit service in Kamloops, another departmental responsibility, ranks second best among similar size Canadian communities when measured in terms of ridership, cost recovery, and productivity.


Community Distinguished Service Awards
From City Hall's web site:
The Distinguished Service Award was initiated by Mayor and Council to acknowledge those, who, over a period of time, have dedicated their time and service to the well-being of our community and it's citizens...Nomination forms and copies of the selection criteria are available from City Hall Reception (or can be downloaded from www.kamloops.ca)...present members of council, city staff and groups do not qualify for nomination...other criteria available on the nomination form.

Neighbour to Neighbour Notices #10

Fish Tanks
(20gal and 10gal) $150 obo
all attachments included - heater, light, airpump, and lots more
250-374-3719


Oops - Calling Computer Trainers...
Thanks to the lady who called (Pat?) who offered to help seniors with computers. I would sure like to contact you and your son but I misplaced your number. Really sorry about that - can you call me again: 250 377 1797 - thank you so much, Arjun


Lower Sahali Schedule of Neighbourhood Get Togethers

Friday, Feb 19th - 7pm to 8pm : Taco Del Mar, Summit Village, 1180 Summit Drive

Saturday, Mar 20th - 1pm to 2:30pm : Natures Fare Market, #5 - 1350 Summit Drive

Sunday, Apr 18th - 5pm to 7pm : Ramada Inn Rooftop Lounge, 555 Columbia Street W

Wednesday, May 19th - 7pm to 8pm : Chapters Viewpoint Restaurant, 610 Columbia Street W

* this schedule is subject to change. Updates will be announced in subsequent issues of the Bulletin, and at the neighbourhood online network - sahali.ning.com.