LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- November 6, 2007
To The Editor;
I just had to respond to Dawn Johnson's column (October 30, 2007) about "Grumpy Old Men." I have read a lot of Dawn's columns and while they have all been good, this one was one of her best.
Being very close to that 'golden age' (I'm 59) I have to say that I have been there, done that. I moved to Princeton one year ago and God bless all those patient people with glazed eyes who listened to me whine and complain about my ex leaving me for another woman and how miserable I was, and how unfair life was. I owe you all an apology.
I also have to say I've dated some grumpy old men in the last year, too. But I had forgotten my two favorites quotes: "We always have choices even though it may only be a choice of attitude" and "Treat people as you would have them treat you."
So I 'Cowboyed Up' and decided to try it. I started by just smiling at everyone I met and maybe calling out a cheerful greeting. Even the grumpy ones answered. When I had something bad or unhappy happen in my life I tried to find something funny in the event. I actually found myself laughing at myself a lot. And people started to laugh with me. Even the grumpy ones.
Sure I have aches and pains like everyone else, I broke my neck three years ago, but no one, including me wants to talk about that. I find the less I talk about it, the less I think about it. And I feel better!
I find that if, instead of asking "How are you today" if I say "Beautiful day isn't it?" that people are more likely to respond with a pleasant answer. We only have just so long here in this life and I have to say that I wasted some of it being grumpy.
Believe me I am no Pollyanna, and I do get cranky, but I have had more fun, met more wonderful people and enjoyed life more in the last year since I decided that life is an adventure to be enjoyed, no matter what the outcome.
Yes there are a lot of grumpy people out there, both men and women. Like me, they have forgotten temporarily that life can be fun. Smile at them. Share a joke with them. Maybe a little bit of our cheerfulness will rub off. Who knows - maybe we'll start something new right here in Princeton.
- Lyn Melnechenko, Princeton
To The Editor;
Old folks are bad for repeating themselves, so here's another letter on why we need two cops in a car. Chris Warren might have died even with a partner, he was shot in the neck and chest, but we will never know.
Jim Eng, might have lived if he'd had a partner, when some irresponsible jerk ran a red light and crashed into his car, but we will never know. The senior levels of government keep dumping social responsibilities downhill and onto the municipalities without providing enough money for social services and policing (for example the Feds gave BC Premier Campbell almost 1/2, almost but not quite 1/2 of what he needs for social housing, so we'll look like Bombay north east when the world comes to the 2010 Winter Games and sees the downtown east side).
The province carries on the same tradition, be cheap sluffing off to junior levels of government social and municipal services while bragging about surpluses and doing the pre-election tax cut thing.
Meanwhile back in the real world decent responsible young folks who choose a cop career are a risk from a small but real and dangerous minority of vicious sickos.
An Old Grouch, Glen Allison, Princeton
(Editor's note: Following a discussion last week with Princeton RCMP Detachment Sgt. Gary Macahonic, a shortage of resources would be the reason for one cop in a car during a shift in the Princeton area).
To The Editor;
Every now and again I get to experience something that moves me to put pen to paper and say how extremely proud I am to be a Princetonite. An experience of that nature took place a week ago at a Princeton Posse hockey game, anyone who was there will tell you it was a genuine barn burner.
The Posse was up against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, the team that has dominated the entire 20 team league to this point in the year. The Nitehawks opened the game with devastating body checks that resulted in a number of penalties, and rather than retaliate Princeton responded with thundering clean hits, they were not intimidated.
Over three periods and overtime the Posse played Beaver Valley to a standstill, in my mind from the goalie out the defense and forwards outplayed the best team in the league.
The fact that the game ended in a shoot-out loss did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of our fans nor our pride in this team, we were privileged to have witnessed something very special, two very talented and well coached teams giving everything they had for sixty minutes.
It has been said that this, the most talented and well coached Posse team ever has the potential to make the playoffs, and with discipline has a chance to go all the way. Last Saturday night (October 27) they showed not only the talent and good coaching, they showed the discipline that could truly set them above the rest.
Really good teams don't just happen. Success on the ice comes from a long combination of ingredients, any one of which, if missing, will leave a team languishing in mediocrity. The players don't play to their full potential without good coaching. Coaches don't coach the way they should without support and cooperation from team management, and nobody gets that extra little spark that makes good teams great without enthusiastic fan participation. Princeton has all that in spades.
The process that got us to the team we have today has not come easily. In our beginnings we were unknown and many players were reluctant to come here. We had some talented players and hard working teams but until this year have not been able to put up good numbers.
We had difficulty finding the coaching we needed and we struggled with finances. Throughout all of that however our volunteer staff and management has never wavered, our coaching assistants have work tirelessly and our corporate sponsors continued to contribute generously.
In terms of fans we consistently turn out some of the highest game attendance numbers in the league, surpassing those of much larger communities.
In my mind the defining moment came with the hiring of Dale (Duner) Hludun. Duner loves and lives hockey, he has an enthusiasm for the KIJHL mission statement that projects themselves as a developmental league for hockey, education and life skills.
Duner takes great pride in the advancement of his players to higher leagues and college scholarships, a quick glance at the Posse website will inform you of his great success. He is always pleased by Posse wins but he is tickled pink by news of his players advancement. The Posse organization is blessed to have a coach of his talent and dedication.
If you haven't attended a Posse game lately, come out and witness the high paced action, and support the players, coaches and volunteers who put on this caliber of entertainment only minutes from your door. This is a team well worth watching.
- Mayor Randy McLean
- Senior Hockey Advisor Brad Hope
To The Editor;
RE: Air Quality Observations, Princeton Landfill - August 2007
Prepared by: Princeton Residents
Murv & Ritta Baker
October 09, 2007
On the 28th of this month it will be three years since we became residents of the Princeton community. Our move here was precipitated as the result of health challenges we both faced due to poor air quality in the Fraser Valley. Ritta is a cancer survivor and I have had a quadruple bypass. As seniors, Princeton was our community of choice based on - air quality, central hospital, active community organizations and very pleasant countryside. We are now aware that many other new residents have made the same choice.
On the 16th and 17th of May this year, we were awakened at 4:40 AM with a house full of acrid smoke (worse than when the local hotel burned). I together with a neighbor searched to determine the cause as the valley and downtown was blue with the putrid stench. Later the same day we were able to ascertain the origin of the offensive pollution originated at the Princeton Landfill. Our research has shown that in 2004 the elected Councils of Princeton, Osoyoos and Summerland voted to burn wood residue on site. This year, 2007 I am advised that Princeton is the only remaining community in British Columbia that still holds a permit to burn clean wood, other communities now chip the material.
We have been advised that the Princeton permit from the Department of Environment allows only the burning of clean wood for two days per year - and then only depending on the direction of the prevailing wind.
Since early spring and up to the present October 2007, burning has been taking place every Wednesday and Thursday when the site is closed to the public. Burning takes place after dark and the fires smolder unattended until Friday morning when the work crew moves in to bulldoze the residue smoking piles into the landfill.
On this basis we monitored the Princeton Landfill site for the month of August on the following dates; every Wednesday and Thursday from the 1st and 2nd through to the 29th and 30th inclusive. Some over 50 pictures were taken with digital camera showing exact times and dates. Observation and pictures show that material such as: painted and varnished wood, treated wood and posts, chip board, laminate, bed spring and mattresses, 24 inch blocks of wood, furniture parts, and more are being burned. Material that formerly was recycled such as grass and hedge clippings are now burned adding to the smoldering smoke residue that is now a community health hazard.
We are informed that the authorization to burn on a weekly basis has originated from Princeton Town Office. If this is the case, then the Town is in violation of both Provincial and Federal Legislation and Council and staff as well as the contractor may be subject to the penalty provisions of the legislation. This report is available for discussion and recommendations. Concerned members of: The BC Lung Association, BC Cancer Association, BC Asthma Association and BC Heart & Stroke Foundation support the report.
Respectfully submitted,
- Murv & Ritta Baker, Princeton
Authorized for distribution by Executive members of Save Our Similkameen
Society Post Office Box 1111 Princeton, BC V0X 1W0
Thelma Bentley, Murv Baker, Ernest Lawrence
