News Leader News
PROGRAM PROMOTES HEALTHY EATING
The Healthy Harvest Box Program has been very successful in Princeton.
The number of boxes sold for March was 129 with an average of 140 boxes per month. The best month saw 177 boxes sold.
This program is administered by Penticton and District Community Resources Society and many community partners are involved across the Okanagan and Similkameen. The service operations are funded by the Vancouver Foundation, Interior Health and the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan.
July 2006 will mark one year since the service started in Princeton and it appears to be building steam.
"We especially want to recognize and acknowledge the hard work of our volunteers who give of their time to enrich the community life of Princeton through their valuable contribution to the Healthy Harvest Box," says Beatrice Bibby, who is involved in the program through Interior Health.
"This service wouldn't be happening without them, including the payment site of Leftovers Studio and the Legion for donating the use of their hall on Box Day."
To support these dedicated people and allow the program to grow, residents are invited to participate. To find out more contact either Jane Johnson at (250) 295-4407 or Beatrice Bibby at (250) 295-4448.
"We are especially in need of a volunteer co-coordinator or perhaps a couple of people who could share the ongoing tasks which culminate in Box Day each month. We look forward to hearing from you!"
FUNDING NUMBERS ARE DECEIVING
Anyone looking at the bottom line of funding for 2006-2007 in School District #58 would immediately conclude the district has more money, but they would be wrong. The district has less money for the coming year.Due to a change in funding policy and an increased number of students taking courses by correspondence, the district receives more money for its distributed learning (correspondence education) facility, but receives less in other areas.
District Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Tisdale stated at the March 22 School Board meeting, "We will be looking for $375,000."
That is the total of the reduction in funds for the district.
The big cut comes in reduced funding to compensate for a decline in enrollment.
In addition, there is a $50,000 reduction in funding for Level 2 Special Education.
The reductions are roughly equivalent to six full-time teaching positions, but this does not mean that many teachers will be out of work.
Wage and salary adjustments are not included in the budget projection and will be addressed as contracts are negotiated.
IT'S TIME TO WATCH FOR WOOD TICKS
Wood ticks are now active in the lower elevations of the Similkameen Valley. These ticks are small, crab-like insects, usually dark brown in colour, but may be a reddish brown with specks. They grip the skin and then insert sucking mandibles into the skin. They feed on blood.Wood ticks will suck blood from almost any animal, but are generally found along deer trails, where they wait in the grass for deer.
Ticks and Lyme disease
When a tick has had its fill of blood, it will detach, but until then, it digs in and hangs on. These ticks are difficult to remove. Anyone who has a tick embedded in the skin should attend the emergency room and have a professional remove the tick. Public health will send the tick for analysis to see if it carries Lyme disease.Most local ticks are not carriers of Lyme disease, but it pays to be cautious, as Lyme disease is very debilitating. If symptoms are not treated early, especially in children, there can be serious consequences.
Check children, pets
As wood ticks tend to live in the dry grass along deer pathways, the ticks may be anywhere in Princeton and area, and most certainly anywhere in the countryside. Check children and pets daily until temperatures average 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. Check yourself and children at the nape of the neck and in fold areas where the skin is tender, such as the underarm, groin and behind the knee.Check dogs on the underbelly and around lips and ears. Cats tend to have too much fur for ticks. Horses may have ticks in areas where hide becomes skin.
To remove a tick from a pet, carefully clamp tweezers on the sucking and clinging parts of the tick where they are attached to the skin, then pull straight out. Clean the spot and examine carefully to ensure none of the mouth parts of the tick remain in the skin.
WALK BRINGS AWARENESS
Two Winnipeg women are walking across Canada to bring attention to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Polly Brassard-McCarthy, 48, and her 13-year old daughter Frances set off from Vancouver on March 1st with the goal of reaching St. Johns, Newfoundland in seven months.
The pair stopped into the News Leader office last Tuesday to tell us about their journey.
"Something has just been driving us," Polly explained.
"We've been staying at people's homes and speaking at places about Fetal Alcohol."
The pair cover about 50-kilometres per day and have limited supplies for their trip.
While in Princeton, a local motel donated a night for them to get a good night's sleep in warm beds rather than camping - as has been the norm on this journey across the country.
To find out more about the walk, or about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or to make a donation in support of the walk, visit this website: http://hometown.aol.com/fasdwalk2006/index.html.
