No gripes with newspaper

There hasn't been much activity on my site for the past few months and for good/poor reasons. I've been going through what is called slow fuse but total burn-out. Working 10-14hrs a day with few off will apparently do that and yet I had few complaints.

Despite the bizarre work schedule and writing time-lines, I enjoyed it and come out with no regrets. I put so much time and effort into my articles that it was occasionally depriving me of sleep and sanity. It didn't drive me crazy, just made me wonder why I tried so hard if next week it was going to be in the recycling bin or buried online. Completely worth it though to find and break my limitations and find out what I didn't care for or really enjoyed about the business of writing.

Short list of non-good times:

Fire & collision scenes = Not excitement or drama, only cold, icy & scary to hope it wasn't someone I knew.
County meetings and local politics = more interesting than I'd think and straight out of Leacock's writing.
Local swim meets = splash zone and worse on a cold camera lens and CMOS sensor, but 200 kids -- track a dozen?
School/community fundraisers = nice philanthropic attempts, but came up disappointingly short sometimes.
Economic development committees and a conference or two = exceeded my expectations entirely, but still dry.

Worst part, interviews going hostile or confused, or not even happening for lack of call-back leaving me with half/no article to write on a subject that needed sources to fly.

Most unfun was sleepless nights, away from my lovely lady and close friends, finishing up articles for a few days before deadline. There was always one with notes from a source didn't make sense, or wouldn't be good to quote as questionable facts, even less fun to salvage.

The good parts? When I was told I made a difference in someone's life or non-profit cause, it made up for the rest of a long haul. I wrote about exciting local sports and fun hobbies, tournaments and charities drives. It was an intrinsic reward to hear that I got it right about little known subjects like fur trapping, medical sonar technician, or martial arts training.


Free local sports games and fun concerts, more than I could race between the arenas, pools and community halls on a weekend before Monday deadline. Meeting and interviewing intriguing people was amazing -- more than a few of them shy/humble, but really interesting once they uncorked their hidden passions.

It was half frustration in getting let go because I finally admitted I wasn't cut out for the long hours, short deadlines of a small weekly newspaper, and hard to get to that point. It felt like I had no life even though I was doing an amazing amount of work out in the community and adrenalin high. Yet if I went out for a beer, someone would frown on it.

If I said something controversial, ignored a lobbying interest, or wrote unpopular truth, I would hear about it loudly.

What I did learn the most and enjoy was when an interview turned into something more than the 15 minute special news spot and a feature worth profiling something out of the ordinary. Those were the best parts when I could pitch something to my editor that was more than basics. For the record, editors have a wry sense of humour, wealth of experience and seem to love still learning new subjects.

When what I was writing clicked and I got a rare great response. When what people were doing was out of the ordinary and they didn't realize it until they read the article and went wow, that was too kind of you to paint us in that light, but thank you.

After writing nearly 250 articles and three car oil changes over the last six months, I saw my share of action -- moments of disbelief that I was having so much fun, or there lack of. Going through articles for scrapbook and portfolio, I had grown as a writer. So I can only hope writing independently and freelance will be just as amazing a journey.

If I get another shot at a newspaper? Great.

But the best part? My own desk and a press badge. Mission complete.

Near empty food bank asks for reinvestment

By Philip Rushton
Hinton Parklander Reporter

While the economy is recovering, donations, which help low income folk cope with the rising living cost, are in short supply.

The Hinton Food Bank's glass is half full or empty depending on the view on the matter.

"We serve 50-150 people per week, that's a lot more than a student's pantry to keep stocked," said Bernie Kreiner, Hinton Food Bank president.

Users of the food bank often have little extended family in town according to Kreiner, daycare, food and transportation costs rise faster than wages so it's hard to balance household budgets.

Stats are difficult to track annually, but the food bank tracks between 3,800 to 5,000 visits by clients, per year. Which represents five to 10 percent of the community.

"We give them food to meet the needs over two to five days if stretched properly," said Kreiner.

The food bank needs to stretch the budget of the community's generosity in food donations of an estimated $40,000 to $60,000 and $30,000 cash which goes to buying fresh produce, dairy and meat.

"If the economy's better, people don't think to donate as much," said Kreiner.

"It's not visible because we're not dealing with homeless, just people who are struggling to make ends meet."

During the festive times around Thanksgiving and Christmas the food bank storage is overflowing with donations, but in the summer, it's difficult to keep up with year-round demand.

"All it takes is for people to donate a little bit of their groceries to the bins in town," said Kreiner. "It's greatly appreciated for those in greater need."

With a bustling room of six to 10 volunteers preparing to disperse food on Tuesday nights, others make grocery runs to pick up donations and perishables during the week. Another volunteer does intake applications and carries a cell phone for emergency food access on case-by-case situations.

"There's satisfaction in knowing we're helping those in need," said Kreiner.

When not busy, people like Kailey Little, home for the summer from university, are happy to help.

"I'm blessed to be in a family that doesn't have issues for food, so to be able to help others feels great, said Little, who is going into 3rd year political sciences and education at U of L.

Other volunteers like long time helper Larry Matwie and his wife Marni, who coordinates the program, have paternal instincts and lots of compassion.

"There's lots of thank-yous when we hand out food," said Matwie as they see the impact over time.

Smiles extend to volunteers when large donations come in from companies' week-long campaigns, Christmas parties and other creative fundraising.

"At the ball tournament there was a challenge of which team could come up with the most weight of food collected," said Kreiner. "It's wonderful when special events raise funds."

However, food banks in different communities have been creative too in a trend to reduce dependency of regulars by enabling them to provide for themselves. The food bank here has three plots at the community garden for clients' use and Kreiner has been working with a few research students from West Yellowhead Community Futures Leadership who will find results by October.

"Seeing how other food banks have been successful," said Kreiner. "We asked the question of how this operation could reduce dependency."

Yet more volunteers are always needed in the meanwhile and the food bank would be happy to train people and put a good experience on resumes.

"Working here is fantastic and we get to get hear people's stories," said Little.

A suggestion from Matwie and Kreiner is to invite high school students looking for a rewarding way to fill volunteer hours for graduating requirements.

"Look at the smile on my face and chuckle in my talking," said Matwie.

"Some people who just need a hand-up in life," said Little.

People interested in volunteering can contact Bernie Kreiner at (780) 865-9355 or at bernie.kreiner_at_shaw.ca. To contact the Hinton Food Bank call (780) 865-6256.


PS Have to admit it was a little hard to report and write this. I'd been working all day and shot this story on the way home before making supper. Was legitimately tiny bit on the hungered side so it was easy to put myself in someone else's shoes.

It was also very warm vibes back in that little store-room, for jokes were fast back and forth. For the record, I'm not sure but that still counts as a grip & grin ^_^ The guys were joking that passing the meat was like Pike St Market and I'd agree they seemed to be just as much fun as the guys who throw fish.

Taxi Cab Drivers Have it Rough

As the cabbies protested to city hall for shields from crazy and dangerous passengers, it raises an interesting issue of who will pay for it and how bad could it be?

Lem'me remember off the top of my head the incidents I've heard from cabbies... This isn't even news as I found another article from a few years ago with robberies and violence -- not fun stuff.

Both from taking the cab before I got my own wheels in Calgary and from working a few night jobs at front desks of hotel & dorm.... Those guys are really hardcore and worthy of a bit more respect.

Wasn't at dorm for two weeks when I heard about a guy getting punched in the cab - picture smashed window in face - by an angry guy outside the cab. I bet neither party paid for the broken window. I also bet to avoid a fight and avoid the nightly fight club style brawls outside cowboy bars.

Unfortunately, that's not the worst I've heard. Another cabbie told me about his car getting written off when he hit a crack-user who ran into the street suddenly and got nailed going 50km/h. Dude dented the hood in a serious way, totaled windshield and then rolled over car roof. He picked himself up, swore at the jaw-dropped cabbie and ran off half athletically. Junkies are hardcore like that.

The number of nearly passed-out people are basically dragged out of cabs is regularity every weekend and half the week-days too. After the few times I've driven drunk people home, I'm impressed with cabbies' skills. Drunk, passengers are prone to be very sensitive to sudden stops and sharp turns. Imaginable that cabbies don't want to be constantly hosing down seats and outsides of doors.

Being a journalism student, I've had some great informal cabbie interviews for practice. Incidentally I gained more respect from learning how hard cabbies work; dusk til dawn and everywhere in between.

One guy was a former software engineer who had been through the recession in the 80's and 90's. Told me some of Calgary's history and the typical cab-driver stories. About how couples made out in the back of his cab, stampede cowboys,  and how some bride-to-be asked him to be her last stand. Also about how some people puked in the back and then refused to contribute to the cleaning bill. He had a huge sense of humour to put up with it all.

Another was an immigrant who was doing time while he was upgrading to be recognized as a nuclear engineer. What struck me was how he had perfect English and commentary on building standards compared to India.

Having studied civil engineering first, this cabbie noted that they have to be creative about being able to recycle site materials -- where it's only recently fashionable or LEED worthy to do so in North America.

Absolutely astute about how general business practices and high standards Canadians have here. Thought some of it didn't make sense but he was glad to upgrade his knowledge. It didn't make sense to me that he could probably come up with some amazing solutions for low-cost housing.

A third cabbie who I had a great conversation with was from Kenya and filled me on how much influence the Chinese and Arabs had economically affected Africa, long before it was common knowledge.

He had been an anti-poacher in his homeland, no kidding, which was basically shooting down and capturing poachers. Had to thank him for that black irony of a job.

Talked about elections comparisons and about how much of a joke NATO and the G8 were for trying to do anything down there. Talked about the Somalian pirates too, all business and support for freedom fighters. Couldn't agree with him on that subject but interesting to get the opinion.

Talking to cab drivers who picked up people from the hotel I worked at for international flights, doctors' appointments and Sunday morning church are incredibly patient, sometimes waiting for 10-15minutes. And they are not running the meter until the traveler got to the lobby or out of their house usually.

Often cabbies would come in towards the end of the shift after 4AM and just chat at the lobby. They had a crazy mix of clubbers, hookers and rhinestone cowboys to deal with every night. Not my idea of employment but I get the impression there's not much choice. At least I had a 4' high desk between me and the crazy people.

Don't remember any particular cabbie who had a knife drawn on him, or worse, but sadly plenty of threats, initial refusals to pay fares and racism.

If cabbies are demanding more safety on the job, who's going to do something about it? There has to be some kind of standards made, and unfortunately, they all own/lease their vehicles from the taxi companies. So it's not something city hall make a quick fix.

--PLR--

image from CBC.ca