Biodigester Done

Grimsby's distinction of having a biodigester is concluded.  Its difficult operations and financial losses have also come to a conclusion - the facility  has been sold. It is a story of mis-steps, poor steps, set-backs, failure to carry out the needed activities, and more.  It took seven years to get it up and running mid-December 2016.  The hope was annual revenue from power generated ito be $1.4 million. It was to pay for itself in eight years. Here's a sample quote: "I would hope to see several hundred thousand (dollars) going back to the town" on an annual basis, he said. "This project should double the revenue stream coming to the town from hydro assets." Fast forward to 2018 municipal elections, and a new town council and mayor swept into power. They made the biodigester the main subject.  The past mayor and town council had refused to reveal the costs of the biodigestor.  The debt in January 2019 was determined to be $15 million.  It costs $100,000 a month to operate it. It isn't surprising that there is a lawsuit against the three major players, and that includes the past mayor.  The lawsuit claims that the two players, with the mayor's support, appointed themselves as contractors and project managers and received substantial money while serving as company directors.  It also claims they suppressed information that the project was not producing profit, along with the losses from the biodigester. There was irregular accounting practices and missing information as well. The resolution of the biodigester was difficult but it got accomplished.  Grimsby is a little town - almost 30,000.  It can look forward to a being town focused on town services again. And the new owner, White Owl, is in the waste diversion and processing facility business, so can expect to see a profitable operation.  These Sago Palm leaves were beside yesterday's pool in Sacramento.

Read past POTD's at my Blog: http://blog.marilyncornwell.com

Shells and Shells

In Florida, shells are everywhere - in the asphalt, the cement.  Of course, they are on the beach.  Here are a few encrusted in brick and cement where we go for a walk.  This is the inland waterway side - one can see it is calmer and has piers for boats.  The ocean side is a torrent of waves and tides, so is clear beach as far as one can see.

2016 - Monkey Year Ahead

For those interested in following horoscopes and signs, this year will be the Year of the Monkey, starting Feb 8 2016, the Chinese New Year.   Why does the date of the Chinese New Year change every year?  The Chinese use the Lunar calendar for their festivals. The Lunar calendar is based on the time the moon takes to go around the Earth. (The Western calendar is based on the time it takes for the Earth to go around the Sun.) The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years.  The first day of each Chinese year will always fall sometime between January 21 and February 21, inclusive, and takes place at sunset on the day of the second (sometimes rarely on the third) New Moon following the winter solstice (21 or 22 December). How long do the New Year celebrations last for? Chinese New Year celebrations last for two weeks and end with Teng Chieh, the lantern festival, on the full moon about 15 days later. The Chinese Calendar Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, the Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Some people believe that people born in a particular year such as the year of the Rat will have some of the characteristics of that animal. It is said that "The animal hides in your heart." At the other end of the spectrum, the 2016 trends in the news seem to veer into the silly. CTV News says a culinary trendologist told The Canadian Press that her ingredient to watch in 2016 is toast. Today we have an abstract of Canna leaves, and a sunflower interpretation.