New hours for transfer station

This report is from Elna Strand, our Lac Le Jeune Conservation Society representative for the TNRD.

Gord has received information that the new hours for the Lac Le Jeune transfer station will begin on November 4th. The hours will be 9-12 on Wednesdays and 2-5 on Sundays. I do not think they will increase the number of hours but the TNRD has said that after the new system has been in operation a couple of months, they will review when the hours occur.

If you have comments about when you would prefer the transfer station to be open please post them here.

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Practical advice for flu season

Lucy Lindros passed along this advice that was distributed to Royal Inland Hospital staff by email. She says if you have the flu, take tylenol for pain and fever, take vitamin C to boost your immune system, drink lots to keep yourself hydrated, rest, and stay home for at least a week. The catch phrase at the hospital right now is "Fever and cough? Take a week off!"

The email message also included this information from Dr. Vinay Goyal, which has been published on several websites:

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) with clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial,etc. Presently, he heads our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, in Malad India. His recommendations to avoiding H1N1 flu:

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In an epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe) .
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, cleaning your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, and
   blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Oranges and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

Swimming traditions

Jen Wyse is famous at Lac Le Jeune for being the first person to swim in the lake after the ice goes off in the spring. She started a tradition that lives on. Now Jen is starting a new tradition by being the last person to swim before ice on! These photos were taken by Kathy Wyse this week as we're seeing ice beginning to form around the edges of the lake.

B.C. moves to regulate recreational off-road vehicles

This Globe and Mail article published Tuesday, October 13 states we could see new legislation introduced in the coming weeks.

For the first time, British Columbia is drafting a set of regulations to rein in irresponsible users of recreational off-road vehicles and ensure that riders are accountable for how they treat the trails they traverse.

'With B.C. as one of the only jurisdictions where there is no obligatory licensing and regulations and no real clear guidelines on how to operate an [all-terrain vehicle], we have just had huge environmental damage from uncontrolled and unmonitored off-road vehicle use,' said Dave Quinn, spokesman for conservation organization Wildsight.

This will be a step forward in managing the trails around Lac Le Jeune. Better signage, and consequences for those who don't follow regulations is a positive step for owners of off-road vehicles as well as for those who are keen to keep our local trails for quiet and low impact activities like horseback riding, walking, cycling, and skiing. As Cal Kaytor states in the article, licensing and registration regulations could help keep trails open.

"If you see someone being a terrain terrorist tearing up the landscape there's nothing you can do about it. Until we get [licensing] in and some way to actually track people who are destroying the environment, areas are going to continue to be closed."

photo by jmwests

Winnie

Lucy Lindros took some photos of a visitor to her yard. Meet Winnie!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Gardener wanted

Wanted: Part Time Gardener at Lac Le Jeune

We are looking for a person who can do some gardening at our place from early spring until fall, 4 hours a week - watering the lawn, weeding gardens, etc. This would suit a retired person.

Contact Steve Roy - steve@ssni.ca

photo by pdam2

Lac Le Jeune Annual Pumpkin Hunt

photo by Paul Keleher

LAC LE JEUNE ANNUAL PUMPKIN HUNT SUNDAY
OCTOBER 18TH 1:00 - 4:00
LAC LE JEUNE PROVINCIAL PARK PICNIC HUT AREA (& beach)

Join us again for a fun afternoon at the annual pumpkin hunt, followed by face painting, gourd bowling, hot dogs and finger food, more games and a special appearance from LOLLIPOP THE CLOWN!!!

Okay, parents, pay attention, 3 things;

1. This year we will again need you to drop off your purchased pumpkins at Casey Cassidy's house up on 3808 Pine Ridge on the Friday 16th
2. We are purchasing the hot dogs and buns, (once we have our head count), can you bring something? Finger food??? Please let me know - Karen @250-828-7123 ASAP (or @ partyof4@telus.net)
3. There is A LOT of preparation the day of, can you help hide pumpkins that morning? Say 10:00 for a couple of hours? Please let me know - Karen @250-828-7123 ASAP (or @ partyof4@telus.net)

A huge thank you to Mountain Valley Plumbing and Tightline Industries for their generosity in funding this event this year. A couple of our community companies!

submitted by Karen Morash

Lac Le Jeune Lynx Photo Featured

The photo of the lynx shot by Peter Sulzle in Lac Le Jeune during the summer is in the September issue of Nature Friend magazine along with a couple paragraphs describing his encounter. The article is called "The Story Behind the Photo" A wild discovery--Canadian Lynx portrait, and the back issue can be ordered online. Peter now has a new website, and many new wildlife and nature photos have been added to the collection.