New recycling and garbage program

Beginning January 2nd disposing of garbage will cost money. Unfortunately, recycling doesn't get any easier...yet. Here's the program in a nutshell:

Pay-as-you-Throw
All of these items can be recycled.
• Newspaper
• Paper (like junk mail, phone books, greeting cards, computer paper, etc)
• Boxboard (like cereal boxes, shoe boxes, etc)
• Tin and aluminum cans (labels and lids are ok)
• Plastics numbered 1-7 (discard caps, rinse containers)
• Plastic film, like plastic bags
• Magazines and books
• Corrugated cardboard
• Glass (jars, bottles -- no ceramics or other glass)

At this point we don't have a "blue bag" recycling program at the Lac Le Jeune transfer station. When we get that progam we'll be able to dispose of an unlimited number of clear or blue garbage bags filled with the first 7 items (unsorted) from the above list. Corrugated cardboard and glass must be separate.

The rest of your garbage must be bagged. The cost to dispose of the bags depends on size:
4 kitchen catcher bags = $1
2 large kitchen bags = $1
1 standard garbage bag = $1
1 oversized garbage bag = $2

But don't bring cash! You need to purchase an Eco-Card from *most* municipal offices or one of these retailers.
Will this program will work? TNRD makes a few claims:
• It's an alternative to increasing taxes to cover costs of garbage removal
• It will reduce waste by as much as 40%

Gripes:
• We have to drive to purchase an Eco-Card. Why not offer it online? Or at the transfer stations?
• The Eco-Cards are only available at some municipal offices; why not all of them?
• Purchasing PLASTIC bags to package up our recycling seems conterintuitive.
• We need to drive over 30 kilometres to dispose of materials for recycling.

Fears:
• We will see more garbage on the side of the road. As it is there is an alarming amount of garbage thrown out of car windows, especially on Lac Le Jeune Road.

How do you feel about this new program?

Donate to the Children's Hospital Foundation

Merry Christmas - Joyeux Noël! BC Hydro is committed to raising $1 million for the Children's Hospital Foundation this season. All you have to do is visit this site to drop a coin in the slot. There is no cost to you, and the website is pretty cool. Spread the word!

Thanks to Lucy Lindros for the link!

Burn Site

Please respond to our poll! At a recent meeting of the Lac Le Jeune Conservation Society one of the items for discussion was the pine beetle burn site. We have permission to use this site, however we have some details to work out such as liability insurance, monitoring, timeline, etc. Before we go ahead with further action, the most important question is how many people would actually use this site.

Respond to the poll before January 30, 2009 and add your comments to the blog (click the "comments" link below this article). We look forward to your feedback!

2009 Polar-thon

Registration is open for the 2009 Polar-thon!

This annual family event will be held January 11th and is organized in conjunction with with the Logan Lake Polar Carnival, a 36 year old tradition at Logan Lake. The Polar-thon is a winter triathlon, combining

• 3 km ice skate (any style)
• 5 km run (in 2.5 k intervals) , and
  
• 4 km ski (freestyle or classic)

Come enjoy the great outdoors and get some exercise! Prizes are given for various age and team categories. The new prizes this year are Best Costume and Best Team Costume.

You can register online or download and print the brochure (PDF) to mail, fax, or hand deliver. Register by January 2th for early bird registration fees: $25 for individuals and $40 for teams. Team registrations must be completed by noon on January 9th.

Race day registration & bib pickup is from 8:00am - 8:30am and the awards & draw prizes from Runners Sole will be held at 11:00am at the Logan Lake Recreation Centre.

Overlander Ski Passes

It's time to register for club membership and early bird ski passes at Stake Lake trails. Follow the link to register online on the Overlander Ski Club website.

Now we just have to wait for snow!

Halloween

Happy Halloween! There were some amazing costumes this year. I didn't even recognize this character with the mask until I heard his giggle. Seeing the dad in the background helped. :-) 

Let's Go For a Walk . . .

A "drop-in" walking group has just formed at the lake and everyone's welcome to join us. From Monday through Friday we'll begin the walk at 1:00 p.m. in front of the Lac Le Jeune Lodge. Now that winter weather is on the way, that's usually far enough into the day that the temperature has warmed up a little.  So far the walks have been about an hour in length, taking various routes each time. Friendly dogs who play well with others are also welcome. It's a chance to get some fresh air and exercise AND become better acquainted with your neighbours . . . so think about joining us!  

New Dog Trail at Stake Lake

There's a work party at Stake Lake to get the new Dog Trails ready for the ski season. Bring your lunch, gloves, shovels and rakes to remove rocks, fill holes and prepare the surface for the first season of service. Meet at the day lodge at 9:00 am, Sunday Oct 26th.

Heartland Food Coop

Heartland Foods and Farm Tours Cooperative is an organization of local farmers and ranchers who produce a broad range of products. You name it -- eggs, freshly picked fruits and vegetables, grass fed beef, lamb, and bison, chicken, pasta + flours, preserves, cheese, a variety of breads and other goodies. It's nice to have such convenient access to food that hasn't traveled thousands of miles and isn't loaded up with the usual hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, perservatives, and animal by-products.

They offer an email ordering service that I've been using for a few weeks now. Here's how it works:

1. Send email to heartlandfoods@telus.net to let them know you would like to be included in their weekly mail out.
2. Each Thursday you will receive a "Fresh List" of items that are available that week.
3. Respond with your order. They appreciate receiving it before the weekend.
   
4. Pick it up at 996 Laval Crescent (High Country Storage) anytime after 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, or on Thursday.
   

The also have a variety of frozen and non-perishable items in the store that you can pick up any time.

If others are interested in this service we could organize a Lac Le Jeune pick up. Just let me know! Add a comment here or send email to sylvia@webbedfeat.com.

Annual Halloween Pumpkin Hunt

Here is your personal invitation to the Annual Halloween Pumpkin Hunt at Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park. Watch out, there will be finger food! Ooooo Scary! Thanks to all the great moms in the community for organizing this. :-)