The leaders of Port Alberni’s Salmon Fest as of Sunday afternoon The post Biggest fish so far at Salmon Fest appeared first on Port Alberni Valley News.

Interesting story this week from Arizona. ‘Take the last train to Clarkdale and I’ll meet you at the station’ Back in 1988 a nice US entrepreneur purchased a short rail spur off the Phoenix to Flagstaff section of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. This short line runs from Clarkdale, Arizona, to the mainline, about 40 miles, and had good volume of coal freight for a local cement plant. The freight numbers were good and the deal done sight unseen – oh to be rich and intuitive. When our hero finally got to ride his very own rods as it were, being a guy of vision, he saw at once the tourist potential of the 20 or so miles from Clarkdale through the upper canyon of the Verde River to Perkinsville, a still working 1,200 ac ranch, and return. We were told that the ranch had been the location of the scene with Debbie Reynolds descending from the train in How the West was Won. The hunt for rolling stock was on and by 1990 the Verde Canyon Railroad was up and pulling them in. There are some minor lessons here for our own favourite railroad - see  full story and piccys at www.avenue.zone

Enjoy a romantic, 4-course candlelight dinner from Chef Steven Muise while listening to the piano melodies of Gary Hodi. $45 per person, reservations highly recommended.   Did you know? You can purchase any bottle of wine in Della's Liquor Store and bring to dinner in Drinkwaters Public House, for only a $5 corkage fee! Just show your Della's receipt to your server in Drinkwaters when bringing the wine in.

This Family Day, come out and enjoy a day of fun with your family with these FREE Parks, Recreation & Heritage activities!   Family Rollerblading 11:00am - 1:00pm Glenwood Centre - Free admission and rollerblade rentals for families of all ages Family Skate 1:00 - 3:00pm Alberni Valley Multiplex - Free admission and skate rentals Museum Discovery 3:30 - 5:30pm Alberni Valley Museum - Explore fun family activities Family Swim 6:30 - 8:00pm Echo Aquatic Centre - Free admission, limited to 300 swimmers Make sure to participate in the Family Day Picture Draw for your chance to win a gift certificate towards program registrations, admissions, or facility rentals. For more details, please visit: http://www.portalberni.ca/parks-and-recreation-events