Darker Darkness on the Streets of Riverview, NB

This photo was taken about 30 feet away from a street light.  The stop sign shows, as does light reflected
off the white house across from it, but notice how dimly lit the street is.

 

 

Darker Darkness on the Streets of Riverview, NB

It’s about light, isn’t it; about being able to see well after dark on the town’s streets?  Isn’t that the purpose of street lights?

The bulbs in the street lights were changed recently, changed to another type of bulb.  Now the streets in Riverview glow an eerie grey-blue, like a scene in a Stephen King movie.  The streets are darker, feel somehow less safe. There are stretches of impenetrable darkness between street lights.  The new lights shine a pool of grey-blue light below themselves but the light doesn’t spread much further.

I searched the Town of Riverview’s website for information or a notification about this change.  Nothing.  I did find one statement under the heading “Roads and Traffic.”  Did you know it costs $36,000.  a month to power the 2,100 lights used in streetlights, crosswalk lights and traffic control lights?  That’s it.  No other explanations, about anything to do with lighting.

$36,000.  is expensive; my tax dollars contribute to these costs.  I understand the need to be wise financially.  Perhaps the changes are about saving money.  That’s a good thing.  Perhaps the new light bulbs are about saving electricity, putting less demand on the grid.  That’s a great consideration.  Perhaps the dim bulbs are about creating less light pollution so we can more easily star gaze at night.  I doubt that’s it.  There’s still all that light pollution from Moncton across the river.

This photo was taken directly under a street light.  Note the grey-blue fogginess of the light
and how little illumination there is.

 

 

I wonder.  Could there have been another alternative to diminishing illumination on the streets at night, creating expanses of deeper darkness for people walking?  Where does public safety figure into this decision?  Last?  Or, not at all?

I wonder why there is nothing on the town’s website mentioning the changes.  Having streets lit in a dim grey fog seems a big change to me.  Isn’t it worth noting? 

I’ll keep on searching for information.  I’d like to understand why the lights have gone dim and grey-blue.   And why, Riverview is in the dark.

ADDITIONAL NOTE (posted at August 30, 2013):  At the end of this month, there were newspaper and TV news articles explaining the changes.  In summary:

"NB Power is in the process of replacing 72,000 street lights around New Brunswick, a project expected to cost $30 million.  The move to LED (light-emitting diode) street lights is designed to save money and reduce the utility's carbon footprint.  NB Power estimates the new lights will allow the province to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 324,000 tonnes during the next 20 years.  Despite the claimed advantages of switching to the new street lights, NB Power acknowledges some negative feedback from communities where they have already been installed." 

The utility says it is working to educate residents about the change, claiming the light is brighter, more efficient and more direct.  Well, not in Riverview, it isn't.  Does educate mean brainwash?  Do they think if they tell us it's brighter, we'll be convinced?  Have they tried walking early mornings and late evenings in Riverview?
 

Knitting Book Review

Three years ago when I stopped working at paid employment, I decided to cease buying books.  It wasn’t a hard decision; I no longer had any cash to spare for purchasing books. 

Since then I have begun a growing relationship with the Public Library System in New Brunswick.  http://visions.gnb.ca   I cannot obtain every book I want, and some I can get, I have to wait a few weeks to take out.  Because of the library, I have been able to keep myself supplied with good reading materials. 

It is easy!  At the library, I applied for a library card, so they can keep track of me and the books I borrow.   I request help from the pleasant librarians, in finding authors and books I want or I can go online at  http://visions.gnb.ca  to search, to request a hold on a book and to check on the due dates for returning those I have at home now.  The library system is most cooperative; they will deliver the books to Riverview Library, the closest one to where I live.

The library provides me with a place to do research, to work on my writing, to use a computer, to attend workshops, to participate in authors’ readings, to learn about writing contests and publishers and lots more.

It is fun to take out several books by the same author, to have the luxury of reading a variety of that person’s work back to back to back.  A great learning experience about their style, as well as their evolving talent.

Currently, I have borrowed a book on knitting.  Doesn’t sound exciting?  But it is!  In addition to the practicalities of patterns, knitting how-to’s and instructions (most of which are aimed at more proficient knitters than I am); this book is full of fascinating stories and facts about global traditions, techniques and design.

Its title is Knitting On Top of the World, written by Nicky Epstein.  The book divides traditions into subsections: Far North, Windswept Isles, Old World, Around the Mediterranean, Far East and New World.  Each subsection begins with the history and techniques that are indigenous to that particular area, complete with stories of the men and women who developed these basic historical styles of knitting.

Nicky Epstein herself says that this book is “not meant to be a scholarly approach to knitting.”  Her book bounces around from Scotland to Iceland to Japan to Sweden to Russia to Latvia and around the globe exploring the history of the designs produced by different climates and cultures.  

 She then designs newer pieces to be knit based on those historical works.  And, labels them with “degrees of difficulty” (novice knitter, intermediate knitter, skilled knitter, master knitter) for those talented knitters who will use the book.  While I would love to be able to knit complicated designs, for me, knitting functions as a way to relax.  It is not relaxing for me to count stitches and to have to pay minute attention to each tiny stitch on my needles.  Perhaps I am at the pre-novice knitter category?

Having stated my bias, I still enjoy reading the information about the creative history of knitting and will be returning this book to the library soon, so that you could enjoy it too. It is an inspirational read and if you're a talented knitter, you'll really enjoy Nicky's designs and clear instructions. Happy knitting!

Photos of the book and page are mine.  Copyright belongs to Nicky Epstein, of course.  Click on links to learn more about Nicky Epstein and her many books of knitting designs.

Phases of Autumn

Phases of Autumn

In the past two weeks, I’ve experienced three different phases of autumn.

Here in Riverview, leaves have been changing for weeks.  Trees are brilliant with fiery colours, the harvest moon hangs heavy and low in the evening sky, gardens are dying, preparing for rest.

North of here, in Quebec, the season is farther along.  Many trees are bare.  White birch stands stark against the remaining foliage, much of it blown off and crunchy, lying colourful on the bed of earth.

South of here, on Long Island New York, autumn has hardly begun.  This dogwood tree is one of the first to change into its delicate rosy hue.  Everything else is still verdant and lush.

Travelling this time of the year provides glorious scenery and awe-inspiring vistas.  It reminds me: everywhere landscapes, life-styles, priorities and perspectives are as varied as the stages of autumn.  Different from what I call home.  Different from what I know.  It is good to be stretched and to acclimatize to other ways of being and living.  And it’s good to be home again!

An Autumn Song




At the top of Gunningsville Boulevard looking toward Riverview, NB

 

An Autumn Song

Bliss Carman (1861-1929)

There is something in the Autumn that is native to my blood,
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.



At the top of Gunningsville Boulevard looking toward storm clouds gathering over Moncton





Light standards and trees on the boulevard



The maples planted along the bicycle path

For more information on Riverview NB, click here.

All photos are mine.