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No rules on this road On Monday morning, at approximately 4 a.m., a very close friend of ours, Arni Arnason, was walking home from a house party.

No rules on this road

On Monday morning, at approximately 4 a.m., a very close friend of ours, Arni Arnason, was walking home from a house party. As he was walking north along Highway 99, just before Nick North golf course, he was struck by a car, also heading northbound. The driver of the vehicle did not stop, or even slow down for that matter.

Arni could have been killed or seriously injured in this incident. We are disgusted to think that someone would leave another human being lying on the side of the road, potentially dead or dying.

The vehicle was a smaller car and likely has some body damage. If anybody witnessed this event, or has any information about this hit and run, please contact the Whistler RCMP.

Kevin Irvine

Mark Porter

Whistler

We can do a lot better

I didn’t find the Kiss concert cancellation at all surprising, especially with just over three weeks to sell the show. In fact, I was more surprised that the act was booked to begin with. Not being a Kiss fan, I’m not in the least disappointed that those 60-something overgrown men dressed up as cartoon animals without any new material in at least a decade and a half won’t be hosting the Kiss army here — although I’m sure many would have enjoyed the show. I am, however, sorely disappointed with the dismal offering of live touring music in Whistler. This is not to be confused with the great local talent we have.

Virtually every other mountain town has a music festival of some sort and plenty of quality one-off shows throughout the year. Whistler hosts some great live music during both the Telus World Ski and Snowboard and Crankworx festivals but the music is not the main attraction and the level of corporate promotion is, frankly, a little hard to take at times. Sometimes I'd just like to pay my money and see the act, although it is hard to argue with free events and I'm glad we have them. We also have some decent smaller shows at some clubs and MY Place. Thanks to those folks who work hard to bring these acts to town and support a live local music scene.

But can’t we do better? Vancouver is home to lots of great talent and a large centre for touring acts both large and small. We should be tapping into that talent pool. Why is it that we don’t see any spillover from the Vancouver Jazz or Folk Festivals? Instead of focusing on high risk mega acts like Kiss, what about starting by building strategic alliances with the jazz and folk festivals to host some acts in our beautiful mountain setting?

When was the last time 54:40 (who virtually live down the highway) played to a non-corporate sponsored pre-sold show — or Blue Rodeo, or Swollen Members, or the Hip or any number of great artists appealing to a diverse demographic? The advice I have to the folks that are sponsoring these shows is go with quality. Build it right and we (and our quests) will come. It doesn’t have to be a mega show — just the right show with enough time to promote and produce the event properly.

We really can do a whole lot better.

Don Whiteside

Whistler

Sign me up

RE: Alta States (Huts)

Definitely huts through Garibaldi park would be a great attraction. Sign me up for a shift as a hut master.

Mike Fanning

Whistler

Taking time for bears

I would like to take some time to congratulate one local concierge on her efforts to help make our guests a little more bear aware. Lesa Mickalow is a concierge at a hotel in town. I have known her since she moved to town from Ontario just a few years ago. Like most new people she didn't know anything about bears when she got here, but after seeing one for the first time she fell for them, as most locals do. She quickly learned how to be very bear smart and makes sure to educate tourists whenever she can.

What I am writing in to commend, however, is that Lesa took it one step further two weeks ago when reading about all of the bear deaths on the highway. She took the time to call all the arriving guests of the hotel, and let them know to be cautious on the roads, as we share our space with these wonderful animals. The guests were grateful, and perhaps her quick thinking and effort saved the life of one of our local bears.

I put the challenge out there to the rest of Whistler, if you think of something you can personally do to protect our bears, do it! Take some time out of your day and feel good about it. A little good from each person makes a big impact for our bears, and right now, they need it!

Thanks Lesa, from me and the bears!

Kirsten M. Reinholz

Whistler

Foreshadow of change

The tower rising from Blackcomb that is so visible from Alpine Meadows foreshadows a profound change in the relationship that we all share with the mountains.

I am afraid that it will be a change we won’t like. For many, if not most of us, the mountains have represented purity, challenge and raw nature. Putting the hand of man in the high alpine in such a blatant way for all to see will alter our perception and the reality of the wilderness.

I hope I am wrong.

Mike Quinn

Whistler

Room for hikers, bikers, riders

I refer to the letter from Linda McMurter "Going big; going irresponsible" regarding her trip to the Chilcotins.

I've been riding, hiking and skiing in the Chilcotins for going on 12 years. Quite a bit less than the good folks at Spruce Lake Wilderness Adventures, but I've spent a bit of time there.

I'm glad Linda had a great time riding horses. It's a beautiful place in our beautiful province and whenever I'm north of the Hurley, I feel fortunate.

I've even had the good fortune of organizing a horse-supported bike trip through SLWA (I wrote about it in http://www.nsmb.com/trail_tales/chilcotin_12_06.php ) and had a great time.

My experience has been that hikers, bikers and horseback riders have been getting along just fine in the Chilcotins for a long time, and I suspect that they will continue to get along despite one person's bad experiences.

Lee Lau

North Vancouver

It’s been a pleasure

To: The wonderful people of Pemberton, D'Arcy, Birken and Mount Currie,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all their support and help over the last two years. This has been a difficult past few months for us. However, all of the wonderful support we received from the community has really helped us make the best of an unpleasant situation.

It has been a pleasure and privilege to work and live in such a caring and thoughtful community. We are sorry to be leaving our family and friends, but due to circumstances beyond our control we needed to find full-time work elsewhere. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to have worked with the amazing children, parents and staff of Signal Hill Elementary and Blackwater Creek Elementary. Best wishes to you all.

Thank you.

Phil and Rebecca Apter

Mount Currie

This is an improvement?

The new location of the trash compactor at Nesters Recycling location is a poor decision. What a Gong Show. There is no good traffic flow, and it is an unsafe location and now we have people dumping things that shouldn’t be dumped right in the middle of the yard. I have observed an off duty muni worker trip on the raised pad. Note all the rubber marks on the RAISED concrete slab. When they pull the compactor and take it away they are gone for hours (I was there) and we are left with overflowing trash right in our face, and for the bears. Yes, the time may decrease in the future, but this is now.

We now have a poor situation for the most important aspect of the whole area. The Whistler Bottle Depot has now been squeezed in to a difficult drop off situation for the people of Whistler. There is less off loading spaces; trucks that have to get in the yard now cannot function as before… and before was better. If we miss one refundable or recyclable because of these changes (people give up and just throw them in the garbage, happens all the time), are we just to accept this?

It was mentioned that this could be looked at as a trial. OK, firstly the raised concrete slab did not have to go in first. The new loading area could have been tried, and if the site ground was deemed not strong enough then a platform built. Why couldn’t we have just changed the angle of the compactor to help the Carney’s drivers?

The electrical wiring could have been strung across the area instead of rewiring into the new concrete slab. Done all the time at construction sites/concert venues, etc. This tells me this is not a trial but a final solution.

Too many resources have been committed; this was no trial.

$115, 000 budgeted upgrade. Boy, there must have been a lot of fat on this project. Let’s see, the contractor (who gets paid) hires out a different company (who gets paid) who hires guys from Chase, B.C. (the people who should get paid). They work 10 days on, four days off. All at premium wages, as told to me by the workers. I am aware there is a labour shortage.

This upgrade is for the comfort and easy accessibility for the taxpayers of Whistler?

John Sinclair

Whistler

Turned away by Canada

I just drove 3,000 miles so that I could ski the winter at Whistler.

I am not indigent. I just do not rent or own because I have chosen to travel. I pay state taxes and have Kaiser health insurance. My net worth is considerable. I have no criminal background. Canada turned me away because I do not rent or own. Maybe you have such a long line of people to buy season tickets it does not concern you.

Linda Krupa

On the road

Congratulations campers

I would like to offer congratulations to all those involved in hosting the Campground “C” Country Rock Festival in Whistler on August 25th. The many concert goers were thrilled by the superb musical performances, including headliner Aaron Prichett, Vancouver’s Spirit of the West, and Whistler’s The Hairfarmers. Special kudos must be extended to the Resort Municipality of Whistler for playing a leadership role in securing this exciting new festival.

Many hours were spent by the following organizations: the RCMP, the Whistler fire department and the municipal bylaw department, to ensure this event went smoothly. In addition, the event was generously supported by many of the hotels and property managers who supplied complimentary rooms and independently promoted the event.

Special thanks to Caroline Bagnall and Kelly Maguire for their efforts in hosting the all important beer gardens!

As a supporter of Campground “C”, Tourism Whistler looks forward to working collectively with our Members to continue attracting and securing similar events aimed at drawing visitors to the resort.

Diana Lyons

Vice President of Operations

Tourism Whistler