Local news, briefly…

Learn how to prune your fruit trees

Revelstoke Bear Aware and the North Columbia Environmental Society are holding a Fruit-Tree Pruning workshop. The workshop will focus on how to tame an overgrown fruit tree, how to maintain a well-managed tree, and also how to manage fruiting shrubs and berry bushes.

The workshop will be held at 700 Moss Street on Wednesday, April 24, starting at 5 pm. Attendance at the workshop is by donation. You can register your interest with Bear Aware Coordinator Sue Davies at 250-837-8624 or with Hailey Ross at nces@gmail.com or just turn up on the day.

For more information about managing bear attractants, contact Revelstoke Bear Aware at beaware@telus.net or see our website at www.revelstokebearaware.org. To report bear sightings or conflict with bears please call the RAPP Line at 1-877-952-7277.

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Get your stuff out of the alleys

If you have been using the alleys for storage of items such as firewood, composters, vehicles, garbage and so on you are going to have to remove them or fall afoul of the City.

The City is issuing a notice that “all personal items need to be removed as per Section 17 of Bylaw #1400 Removal of Chattel or Obstructions.”

“Any chattel or obstruction unlawfully occupying any portion of a highway or public place may be removed, detained or impounded by any person authorized to do so by the Sup’t. of Public Works or a Peace Officer,” the City said in a notice posted on its website..

If you have any questions please call the Department of Engineering and Public Works at 250-837-2001.

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Wood-burning Appliance Bylaw adopted by Council

City Council has formally adopted Wood-Burning Appliance Smoke Control Bylaw No. 2017, which had received third reading in February.

The bylaw, which was adopted on Tuesday, regulates the installation and use of wood-burning appliances within city limits.

All wood-burning appliances must be certified to Canadian or US standards and are subject to permit requirements under Building Bylaw No. 1707 and payment of fees pursuant to the Fees and Charge Bylaw.

The bylaw also prohibits the burning of any fuel other than seasoned cordwood, or manufactured products such as wood pellets or fuel logs sold at retail for use as fuel for  wood-burning appliances. That rules out things like left-over pieces of structural timber, plywood, shipboard, garbage and just about anything else you can burn.

It also permits bylaw control officers to enter and inspect any land or premises where wood-burning appliances are being operated or have been installed.

Failure to comply with the bylaw carries a heft penalty.

“Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Bylaw, or who suffers or permits any act or thing to be done in contravention of this Bylaw, or who refuses, omits or neglects to fulfill, observe, carry out, or perform any duty or obligation imposed by this Bylaw, commits an offence and is liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $10,000.00 for each offence,” the bylaw states.

Please click here to read the bylaw.

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Worried about the urban forest?

The City plans on removing — and replacing — more trees from our urban forest.

A report to City Council from Parks, Recreation and Culture Director Laurie Donato on Tuesday said the City plans to remove 10 trees from the Revitalization Area downtown and four of the Crimson King maples on Mackenzie Avenue.

Pending budget approval it will plant  37 trees, 48 shrubs and 78 perennials in Centennial Park, a new tree in Grizzly Plaza, one at the  First and Mackenzie and one on Connaught. It will also plant three new trees in Queen Elizabeth Park to replace three birch trees that had been removed.

Please click here to view the report.

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