Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Earthquake a Warning

NZ earthquake 'a warning to North America'
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Washington, Feb 23 (ANI): The terribly destructive New Zealand earthquake that killed dozens and caused heavy damage is a warning to cities up and down the West Coast of North America, according to a researcher.

Even though Tuesday's 6.3-magnitude earthquake was weaker than last year's event, it was much shallower, was situated directly under Christchurch, hit during the lunch hour when more people were exposed to damage, and shook sediments that were prone to 'liquefaction', which can magnify the damage done by the ground shaking.

The 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the nation last September near the same area killed none.

Robert Yeats, a professor of geology at Oregon State University and an international earthquake expert, said that same description matches many major cities and towns in Washington, Oregon, California and British Columbia.

"The latest New Zealand earthquake hit an area that wasn't even known to have a fault prior to last September, it's one that had not moved in thousands of years. But when you combine the shallow depth, proximity to a major city and soil characteristics, it was capable of immense damage," said Yeats.

"The same characteristics that caused such destruction and so many deaths in Christchurch are similar to those facing Portland, Seattle, parts of the Bay Area and many other West Coast cities and towns," he said.

"And it's worth keeping in mind that New Zealand has some of the most progressive building codes in the world. They are better prepared for an earthquake like this than many U.S. cities would be," he added.

According to Yeats, the risks from comparatively shallow 'crustal' faults are often given less attention compared to the concerns about the major subduction zone earthquake facing the Pacific Northwest in its future, or other major quakes on famous plate boundaries such as the San Andreas Fault.

Associated with that is the risk of liquefaction - the characteristic of some soils, particularly sediments deposited over long periods of time, to become saturated with water and quiver like a bowl of gelatin during an earthquake.

Such motions can significantly increase building damage and loss of life.

Like much of the West Coast, Yeats said, New Zealand sits near a major boundary of the Earth's great plates - in this case, the junction of the Australia Plate and the Pacific Plate.

Despite intensive seismic studies in that nation, no one had yet identified the related fault that devastated Christchurch.

"We can learn about earthquakes and help people understand the seismic risks they face But it's still an inexact science, the exact timing of an earthquake cannot be predicted, and the best thing we can do is prepare for these events before they happen," said Yeats. (ANI)

Community Supper

Digby Neck Community Pot Luck Supper

6 p.m. Thursday March 10, 2011

Little River United Baptist Church

Please bring your favourite dish to share and enjoy a delicious meal and conversation in warm fellowship with friends. If you don't have time to prepare something come anyway. There is always plenty of good food. Invite your neighbours.

Everyone is welcome.

Please put it on your calendar!
_________________________________________________________
Due to increasing postal costs (now over $50 per mailing), notice of the suppers will be by email, telephone and the Digby Courier Events column.
We are trying to notify everyone who has attended previous suppers and don't want to leave anyone out so please tell your neighbours and seasonal residents and visitors.
The location of the suppers and the day of the week are rotated so that everyone will have an opportunity to attend.
The suppers are organized by volunteers. If you are willing to help in any way with planning, notification , set up or clean up on a regular or occasional basis, please call Susanne at 834-2969

Fight Loud Commercials

Dan Mills has provided this very useful link and contact information if you are bothered about the rise is volume during commercials. Pls read to the end to get the contact information to send your letter/comment to. The only way things change is if people-you and I- tell them that it needs to change.


If you dislike the volume sky rocketing during commercials on T.V/radio etc you can register your complaint to the following site and you can read the following
mail that was sent to me..Perhaps we have a chance to stop this harassment so please submit your 2 cents worth in mail and we might accomplish something,

wayne




Dear Mr. Spinney:

Thank you for your message to the CRTC regarding the loudness of commercial messages.



In response to comments similar in nature to yours, the Commission has initiated a public process seeking comment on possible measures that television broadcasters and other elements of the Canadian broadcasting system can implement to control the loudness of commercial messages relative to adjacent programming. We invite you to participate in the review by submitting your comments at



https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/Intervention/Submission-Soumission.aspx?lang=e&EventNo=2011-102&EventType=Notice#Step0.



Comments must be received on or before April 18, 2011. Note that all information you provide as part of this public process, including any personal information, becomes part of a publicly accessible file and will be posted on the Commission's website. We also include links to the CRTC news release http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2011/r110217.htm and to Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-102 http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-102.htm for your information.



On behalf of the CRTC, thank you for taking the time to share your observations with us.



IMPORTANT NOTE: Please do not reply to this message using the email address indicated above as we cannot receive e-mail at this address. To reply or to add to your submission, please click here and follow the prompts: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/rapidsccm/landing.asp?lang=E&caseid=523112&key=40992.6427564815

Regards,

Andrea Mullin
Client Services

1-877-249-2782 / télécopieur/facsimile (819) 994-0218
Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes / Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission / Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
Gouvernement du Canada / Government of Canada

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

A Benefit Drumming Performance

Please come on out for this good event!





Financial Help for Children's Education

Dan Mills fights "educational poverty" by being "for" special savings accounts for children's education. Please look at this if you have children or know children whom you wish to help further their education. After reading the blurb below, check out link www.smartsaver.org/resp-information.shtmal

Government money
for your child's education
You know that education is important to your child's future success, but you're not sure how to pay for it. The best way to start is to make sure your child gets the Government funding that is available through a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).

The Government gives families the Canada Learning Bond. It goes right into your child's RESP even if you don't have money to contribute yourself. The Government will also add money to whatever you can save.

SmartSAVER does not sell RESPs or investments. SmartSAVER is a non-profit community project based in Toronto that helps families learn how to start an RESP and how to get Government money for their children's education after high school.



Monday, February 14, 2011

ADEDA News

Transportation Tidings
Transportation by land, sea and air were all in the news the past week. This is, of course, all good stuff since our transportation infrastructure is a key component of our economic development strategies. There was more news about planned improvements for service at the Digby Annapolis Regional Airport. ADEDA has been working with the Municipality of the District of Digby and its airport working committee on this project with promising results. Digby Municipality Warden Linda Gregory said that plans to supply jet fuel in addition to aviation gas for aircraft, and the installation of an automated weather observation service, were expected to make the airport - Nova Scotia’s highest by the way - an even busier destination.

Meanwhile, consideration was also being given to an expanded bus service into downtown Digby. Discussions were beginning with Kings Transit to establish a series of stops in the downtown area, and maybe even extend the service to the interprovincial ferry terminal. Digby Mayor Ben Cleveland said that he had long wanted to see a route through the downtown.

And speaking of the interprovincial ferry service (gosh how I love the chance for a good editorial segue), the Saint John Telegraph Journal carried a story about a Florida entrepreneur, who summers in Maine, and his proposal to establish a year-round ferry service between Maine and New Brunswick. He also claims that a regular Bay of Fundy service between Eastport, Maine and Digby could make good sense as well.

Another Tidal Energy Announcement
Staying on the Bay of Fundy (another sneaky segue) the major business news last week in our province was the announcement that Nova Scotia's bid to become a North American leader in the development, supply and support of tidal energy projects took another step forward. It focused on the declaration that an international consortium will test one of the world's largest tidal turbines in the Bay's aggressive marine environment.

Atlantis Resources Corporation, a world-leading tidal technology and project development company, was one of five respondents to a request for proposal issued by the province last fall for a fourth berth-holder to participate in its Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) project. Nova Scotia’s Premier Darrell Dexter said" We are working to harness some of the most powerful tides in the world to produce safe, clean, renewable energy for Nova Scotia and through that process develop the expertise, experience and infrastructure to be a resource for tidal energy projects across North America." The company will work in partnership with Lockheed Martin and Irving Shipbuilding.

The Business Briefcase
It’s undeniably tough being a university student these days, with ever rising tuition fees and the scramble to find job related learning opportunities. That’s why it was heartening to note that the provincial government will be doubling the number of co-op education positions it currently funds. The new program is called the strategic co-operative education incentive (It’s a semantic mouthful admittedly – but who cares as long as it’s helping) and combines two existing, separate programs for both the non-profit and private sectors. If your organization is inclined to take on a student for a term placement there’s no better time than now, especially for community organizations and small businesses.

And since the case can be made for small businesses as the real backbone of the economy in our area, there’s a great chance for that business constituency to develop essential skills to maximize the performance efficiency and profitability of their operations. An innovative program is being offered by Saint Mary’s University’s Business Development Centre and workshops begin this month.

Well Deserved Recognition
When friends and family descend to visit with me, especially in the summer, there’s one destination that always seems to be on their agenda. It’s the iconic Flight of Fancy in Bear River, and they always return to rave about both the artisanal offerings and the service. So it came as no surprise – but welcome news nonetheless – that artist Rob Buckland-Nicks, and his enterprise, was honoured recently at the Atlantic Canada Craft Awards of Excellence for Outstanding Retailer. The 14th annual awards were presented in conjunction with the Atlantic Crafts Trade Show (ACTS).

No More “Neige” Saying
OK, I‘ve decided to seriously try and come to grips with the seeming relentlessly falling snow as I stare vacantly out my window. It’s hard for me, but I’ve been somewhat inspired by those in our community who celebrate the season and all it offers. Especially those eager fresh faces I see on television who are gathering for the next couple of weeks in our province to participate in our national Winter Games competition. And I honestly have to salute the enthusiasm of the folks in Middleton who hosted the highly successful provincial Mens’ and Womens’ Masters Curling Championships recently. Not to forget that the Canadian Senior Mens’ and Womens’ curling championships will soon be in our area as well. The Digby Area Recreation Commission and the Digby Curling Club are co-hosting the championships that will see 24 teams competing—with 11 provincial teams and one territorial team in each category, from March 19-26. Organizers are still looking for a few more volunteers. Moving from curling to cuisine (my last segue du jour), you don’t have to be part of the “hurry hard” set to find a reason to visit the Bridgetown Curling Club (333 Granville St.) this weekend, where on Saturday the 19th, cold lobster from Nautical Fisheries, potato salad and cold slaw from King’s Processing and dessert from Graves ValuFoods will be available. You can eat in at the renovated curling club or get takeout. Delivery is available from Bridgetown and area to Annapolis Royal and area. All proceeds will go towards the new geothermal ice plant. Doors open at 6pm and it’s $15 per ticket. For tickets contact Karson Lewis at 532-8537. Oh my, lobster even in winter – maybe there’s hope for me yet.




Till next week;

Peter

Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0

Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Bay of Fundy Tidal Turbine

NS: Province announces major tidal turbine project


This concept of an Atlantis Turbine shows how big the generator will be. - Provinded through Communications Nova Scotia
Published on February 10, 2011
Published on February 10, 2011
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The Daily Business Buzz
By summer, 2012 one of the world’s largest tidal turbines will be churning water in the Bay of Fundy. Atlantis Resources Corporation joined the province’s Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy project (FORCE).

Topics : Atlantis Resources Corporation , Lockheed Martin , Nova Scotia , Bay of Fundy
[MINAS BASIN, NS] - By summer, 2012 one of the world’s largest tidal turbines will be churning water in the Bay of Fundy.

Atlantis Resources Corporation joined the province’s Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy project (FORCE).

Atlantis specializes in tidal power generation and was one of five companies to propose plans for a fourth berth-holder in the bay last fall. They have projects underway in Northern Scotland, Australia and India.

They will be joining the partnerships of Nova Scotia Power and Open Hydro of Ireland, Minas Basin Pulp and Power with Marine Current Turbines technology and Alstom Clean Current technology out of France.

Atlantis has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore and will be teaming up locally with Lockheed Martin and Irving Shipbuilding to design, build and deploy the one megawatt turbine called the AK-1000 Mark II.

"We are absolutely delighted that the Nova Scotia government has chosen our consortium to develop the final FORCE berth," said Tim Cornelius, chief executive officer of Atlantis Resources Corporation. "We are committed to working with local Nova Scotian companies to establish a local supply chain and knowledge base that will be a platform for the growth of a commercial scale marine power industry in the province. Building on our global project experience, we are keen to work with government and the other developers at the FORCE facility to accelerate the deployment of commercial scale marine energy in Nova Scotia."

Lockheed Martin and Irving Shipbuilding employ a combined 1330 workers in Nova Scotia of varying types of skills and proficiencies.

Irving will be lending its skills of steel fitting, welding and ironwork to the project. They have a history of providing parts for ships and offshore rigs.

"The success of this consortium not only demonstrates Nova Scotia's growing expertise in a promising industry, but also the breadth of the skills and capabilities of the men and women of Irving Shipbuilding," said Steve Durrell, president, Irving Shipbuilding.

Lockheed Martin, the giant U.S. defence contractor will be providing the engineering and planning expertise to the turbine.

"Lockheed Martin has designed and deployed maritime systems for more than 40 years," said Tom Digan, president of Lockheed Martin Canada "We will apply our systems engineering, integration and manufacturing expertise to help make tidal energy generation an economically viable reality."
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