If A Rooster Laid an  Egg On A Fence.......

   What side would it fall on?  It's an age old riddle and the answer has always been simple, roosters don't lay eggs, but, if the rooster lived in North Bend it would depend on which way the wind was blowing.
   In North Bend there lives a very special animal, he is a common white leghorn rooster, about a year old, and proud and handsome in a very rooster-y way............... and he lays the most beautiful white eggs.
   Stewart Paulson, poultry industry specialist for  Agriculture Canada says this has been the talk of the office all week.  He heard of a similar case in the late 1960's,when a farmer sent a letter to the university , even though he never saw the actual bird, he did read the autopsy reports.  This is the only other case of a rooster laying eggs in over 40 years that he has heard of .  It happens in people he says, and it happens in the animal world, but it is very rare, and he was utterly amazed to hear that the rooster has made himself a cozy nest where he will lay his eggs in the mornings and then stand up to crow.  This is something that  roosters just don't generally do.
   A hermaphrodite (two-sexed) chicken is caused by a cell in the egg that behaves like a germ,  this cell interrupts the process of  determining the sex of the chicken and it becomes `confused'.  In this particular case, the animal is physically half and half.  Apparently it has one ovary, and one testicle, and amazingly enough is able to lay sterile eggs even though it looks like a perfectly normal rooster.  It has  a large heel spur on one leg, and a small nub on the other.  It's owner has never seen him attempting to mate, and his behaviour is unusually submissive for a rooster.
   When this bird should meet demise, Paulson has requested that his remains be sent to his lab for an autopsy, but in the meantime he would like to have a picture of him sitting on his nest so he will have a great conversation piece to tack on his wall.  As far as we have been able to determine he is as rare as..... well,... as rare as hen's teeth.

            Town Notepad

  Many people have contacted us to express their dissatisfaction with our cable , in particular the movie channel, Encore Avenue,  so we decided to ask a few questions.  We contacted Ann Schudeleit, and she submitted this report to us:

 Early this year, Corus Entertainment advised us that Movie Central consisting of six channels would be launched on April 1st, 2001.  These are the old Super Channels plus Cinemax, renamed and with an added format.
 Unfortunately we were also advised that the movie studios were no longer offering Corus Entertainment a universal rate and consequently Corus could no longer offer it's affiliates a universal rate.  As a result our cost for Movie Central (Super Channel) was going to almost double.  We could not accept this as we would be paying approximately $27,000 per year for only one channel!
Keep in mind that we have a budget with the Regional District who pay our bills and that we must work within that budget.
 At an executive meeting, we decided to try and work out some arrangement with Corus.  A Contract was entered into which would give us Encore Avenue(4) and Comic Strip(32) on a universal rate basis  which was affordable to us.  While it is recognized that these channels offer older movies and might not appeal to everyone, it was felt that with the two video outlets in Boston Bar, people would be able to supplement their viewing by rentals of newer releases.  We did not choose to change channels.  It was an economic situation that we were unable to cope with.  
 Simply put, either we worked something out with Corus Entertainment or there was no movie channel.  Keep in mind that there is always an alternative in Star Choice.  Note also that a universal rate is only offered to unscrambled systems which offer channels as basic television.  Because of the change in format, Movie Central became Pay TV on an individual basis.  
****In our next issue we will tell you how you can become a member of the committee.


                                  The Express Salute

In this issue  the Express Salute goes to  all the people who campaigned and donated their time  to the recent Boston Bar Band elections.  Dolores O'Donaghey is the new chief and she wants all of her supporters to be recognized and thanked for  their support, especially Julie Grafinger, for all her help and advice.     Nominated By Dolores O'Donaghey



       For the past five years local groups and individuals have been working in the Nahatlatch Valley to determine what kind of adverse impacts past forest practices have had on our hillslopes, roads, streams, and wetlands, and planning methods for reversing those effects. Known as the Nahatlatch River Watershed Restoration Program  (WRP) ,Teal Jones Groups Forest Renewal BC (Pacific) Program, the Boothroyd  and Boston Bar Bands , federal and provincial government, local contractors and  SheerKnowledge Inc. consultants have banded together  to do the work.  British Columbians WRP is  one of the largest programs of it's kind in the world  with 55 forest companies working together with communities and First Nations to put   the concepts of sustainability into action with environmental, cultural, social and economic benefits from the work.
       In July 2000, Teal Jones Groups Forest Renewal BC Pacific Programs hired SheerKnowledge Inc., (Jeff Castellas) a sustainable development consulting firm dedicated to working in the Canyon, to study, map, and assess an area of the Nahatlatch Valley, from the 37-42 Km mark. This area selected for the study is 280 hectares consisting of eight wetlands.
Studies have revealed this area as vital fish habitat for rearing salmon that would benefit greatly from restoration. Other areas of the valley have also been identified as requiring attention; one of which is Log Creek, which flows South into the Nahatlatch River at about the 23 km mark on the forestry road.
     A great deal of work has already been successfully completed, landslides have been stabilized, roads have been de-activated,  and land brought back into forest production creating over 400 days of employment and training for local First  Nations/ forest workers.    A lot more is planned.
        The next three years will be very busy for all those involved in the WRP rehabilitation projects. Lets hope the  Liberal government in it's current review of the program maintains the funding and provides the mechanism for the forest industry and local community to continue the good work ,including measuring our performance towards sustainability goals and telling the world markets about our improvements for people and the forests in BC.
    Eight priority projects are planned to restore drainage and connectivity between the various streams and ponds in the Nahatlatch River  37-42km wetland.   A series of channels between 17 km and 18 km (over-wintering and rearing habitat) have been created or enhanced with rocks and logs with the intent to rehabilitate prime coho and Chinook habitats and to provide year round fish access to the river.
     Investments in all of these improvements are expected to  significantly accelerate the rate of natural recovery and greatly increase fish productivity in the Nahatlatch watershed with real economic, commercial, recreational, cultural rewards for the local community and all British Columbians. Reports on the Nahatlatch can be downloaded from
http://www.sheerknowledge.com


   FVRD Update   By Terry Raymond
                  
CN Water In Boston Bar CN wants to abandon their water system in Boston Bar (Styoma Creek).  CN has extended their threatened closure to September of this year.  We will be holding a meeting with the users of the system to discuss a few options, one being a private/public partnership, two, a local community society, three, FVRD setting up the system.  The choice will be up to the users.  We have been stating that CN should be coming forward with more than just a water system that is in need of about $300,000 worth of repairs.   I have started again(new provincial government) to get the requirements required by the previous Ministry of The Environment, on the North Bend Land Society land, eased or removed.  I am also trying to get a copy of a new report on the stability of Hallecks Creek since restoration works have been done.
      We have also been working on acquiring Green Grants to install solar panels to heat Almer Carlson Pool to eliminate the need for propane heating.  This is moving along fairly well as it is mostly a matter of educating both governments that the pool is not in Chilliwack or Hope.
Traffic Safety Committee  The Fraser Canyon Watch signs should be appearing along the highway between Hope and Cache Creek very soon.  These signs will advertise a toll-free number to call to report erratic or dangerous driving.
       I put forward a proposal to the highways minister to deal with cyclists in the tunnels.  I received a report from Oregon State on the use of flashing amber lights warning drivers that there are cyclists in the tunnel.The lights are activated by the cyclists and are on a timer.  They have worked very well in Oregon.  There are three  tunnels of main concern, China Bar, Ferrabee, and Alexandra as these tunnels are curved and therefore visibility is restricted.  In case you are wondering, the sidewalks are too narrow for cyclists to use.
    The Yale Treaty talks have resumed after a pause during elections.  The meetings are held at least two days per month and most are open to the public.  I sit at the table representing the region on the BC South negotiating team.  Some items are on hold until after a referendum has been held on the Treaty Process.  
    I also sit on the Fraser Valley Treaty Advisory Committee and the Fraser Valley Regional Advisory Committee.