Letters to the Editor

To clarify

I want to thank the Castlegar News for your  coverage of the recent Community Carol Sing that took place in Castlegar the week before Christmas.

As the one who plans the event, I would like to add some comments.

This community event has been going for more than twenty years and is one of the few ecumenical events in Castlegar, with all the churches being invited  to participate,  as well as community choirs I felt that the article omitted pointing out that  it is not simply “a recital” at least half of the event is enthusiastic participation by the audience.

The idea is to have an afternoon of singing Christmas carols and songs  and enjoying time together, regardless of whether one belongs to a church or not.

It is also an opportunity for the talented local church and community choirs to share their music with the people of Castlegar.  This year the choirs included the choirs from the Anglican, New Life Assembly and United Churches and the Robson Community Choir the Kootenay Men’s Choir and the Twin Rivers Chorale.

I would like to acknowledge all the participants including Bob Bertuzzi who is the MC for  the afternoon, Alicia Liszt-Affolter, who accompanies  the singing, and the congregation of the New Life Assembly who so kindly donate their facility for this event.

A large quantity of food donations was contributed by those who attended the community carol sing.  In addition to this over $400 was collected and given to the Castlegar Food Bank.

It is an annual event and  we look forward to enthusiastic participation again in 2012.

–Sarah Tupholme

Castlegar

Lost: Common sense

Explaining my issue would best be done in chronological order, but would require a longer article to accomplish. A condensed version, in this case is applicable.

On Dec. 30, 2011 at 3:50 p.m., our vehicle was caught in a collision with what is best described as a pothole. The pothole measured 48” X 20” and was seven to eight inches deep. Potholes occur all the time... so why the letter?

After reporting the incident to ICBC claims, I proceeded to contact other authorities. I was under the impression that the serious nature of this particular pothole (in the direct driving path of a vehicle) would be addressed. By addressed, I mean attended to in a reasonable order and time. To my dismay, without further details or photos, the hazard was handled 22 hours after my first phone call.

Within this period I believe our car was not the last to collide and sustain damage. After 21 hours there had not been one sign, warning light or flag person to warn the public other than the yellow grocery bag placed parallel to the hole by a concerned citizen.

I always hear of ICBC’s dilemma of raising rates due to claim costs being high. Radio commercials for the highway maintenance companies play, claiming: “Your safety is important to us.” I have to wonder if repairing the issue would have cost more than the radio commercial?

Quickly repairing the pothole would be less costly to the driving public in ICBC claims, personal deductibles, and most importantly of all: it would eliminate a potential cause of a serious accident.

Not privileged to know how many vehicles were involved on Highway 3, heading into Castlegar off the bridge, I am only aware of the ones I documented (having photos of a small assortment of hubcaps along the roadside).

How much damage to vehicles... like bent rims, or suspension damage, goes undetected until a professional inspection has been done?

I ask how a hazard this obvious can be left without attendance, or at least a warning for this period of time?

In conclusion, words like diligence, competency, safety, and common sense come to mind.

I will end by stating that I believe common sense is lost in this situation; the reward for it’s return would be peace of mind. If found, please bring it back because we’re all lost without it.

–Lawrence Zaytsoff,

Castlegar

Hold your fire, please!

This letter is directed to those people on Pass Creek Road who fire their guns between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. You are taking a great risk with our lives. We are your neighbours.  Some of us moved to the country to enjoy the peace and quiet, and relative safety of our rural area.

This is a residential neighbourhood with a number of small acreages and a lot of outdoor activity in the evenings. While you are shooting into the dark, some of us are out walking with children or dogs. Some of us are night-skiing or snowmobiling. Some of us are busy cutting our firewood or doing our livestock chores. You are putting us at risk of injury or worse.

For those who fire their weapons later in the evening while attending noisy parties:  come on people - rifles and shotguns are not party favours! Guns do not mix well with alcohol and drugs.

You may believe that your are (to quote a local RCMP officer) “safely discharging your firearm on your own property” but you have no idea of the risk you impose on the rest of us. In the dark, you cannot tell how far that bullet will travel or how it will ricochet off the rocks. It is not safe for those handling livestock, as the animals panic when you fire, and can trample us causing serious injury. Your gunfire can stampede them through the wire fence, leaving us with a big vet bill to pay.

If you know of anyone who disharges their firearms in our community or if you recognise yourself in this issue, please think about recommending or using the rifle range or the trap and skeet club to hone your marksmanship skills. Give your neighbours a safe start to 2012. You may depend on us some day to provide you with first responder service, or to help you out in some other way as country neighbours do.

–Dodging your bullets in  Pass Creek

Ed. Note,

While it is established policy not to include unsigned letters, it was decided to make an exception in the case of the letter above.