News Leader News for May 20, 2008
COMMUNITY FOREST AGREEMENT APPLICATION REMAINS ON TRACK
The Town of Princeton, Area H of the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen and the Upper Similkameen Indian Band are pleased to inform the community that progress is being made on the submission of an application to the ministry of Forests and Range for a five year probationary Community Forest Agreement.
The three partners recently met in Hedley to discuss outstanding issues and give guidance to their consultant and working group on how to work towards the July application deadline.
One of the benefits of a community forest is an allocation of an annual timber supply that is available for logging, the financial proceeds of which will go directly to the three partners, thereby staying in the local area.
The three partners have been working with local licensees Tolko Industries, Stuwix Resources and Weyerhaeuser to identify a forest tenure area that would be suitable to sustain a 20,000 cubic metre timber allocation.
Community forestry involves the three pillars of sustainable development: social, ecological and economic sustainability. At its core, community forestry is about local control over and enjoyment of the benefits offered by local forest resources. These benefits are both monetary and non-monetary.
On the monetary side, benefits include local employment and economic development. Non-monetary benefits are derived from the many values associated with forests, including ecological (such as the protection of drinking water), cultural, spiritual, medicinal, recreational and aesthetic values.
The public is invited to comment on the application process and the working group will be distributing a questionnaire through post boxes. Please note that if you have requested Canada Post not place 'unaddressed ad mail' in your mailbox you will not receive a questionnaire. If you don't receive a copy of the questionnaire they can be picked up at Town Hall, 169 Bridge Street.
Backgrounder
In British Columbia community forests are established when the provincial government grants forest management rights to a community as a tenure arrangement, or timber license. The invitation from the Ministry of Forest and Range in July of 2007 to the three partners was based on a tenure arrangement and the ability to forest 20,000 cubic metres of timber annually. Community Forest Licences are long term (usually 25 years), replaceable tenures.
The working group will be scheduling public meetings (June 25 is already scheduled). The objective of the meetings is to share information with the community, facilitate discussions and receive input regarding the management, vision, values and objectives for the Community Forest. The Government requires that the partners demonstrate that there is a high level of community awareness and strong support for the application from a broad cross-section of the community. In order for the community forest application to be successful the partners need community support and involvement.
The process to supply for a community forest is currently being managed by a working group of the three partners and forestry consultant Rod Willis and with the assistance of the British Columbia Community Forest Association. The working group is guiding the process of developing the application to the Ministry of Forests and Range.
If the partners are successful in acquiring the Community Forest Agreement, the agreement (and license) will be issued to a limited liability partnership corporation of which the Town of Princeton, Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen and Upper Similkameen Indian Band would appoint directors. Over the next couple of months, the corporate structure will be reviewed to determine the best structure for what would become a functioning business immediately upon the issuance of the Community Forest Agreement.
SOCIETY HOSTS GALA
Save the evening of June 19th, so that you can be one of the lucky people to enjoy a gala dinner and dance, hosted by the Princeton Performing Arts Society. The gala will take place in the beautiful RockRidge Canyon dining room and will feature an extensive buffet dinner, starting with punch and appetizers at 6:00 P.M.
After dinner, there will be dancing to the cool sounds of jazz pianist, Hugh Parsons. Hugh is coming down from Kelowna, with friends to supply some unforgettable music for the gala.
During the evening, there will be multiple door prizes drawn, and chances to bid on great prizes in the silent auction. Some prizes include: an overnight stay at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, 2 passes for a ride on the Kettle Valley Steam Railroad, gift certificates to The Branding Iron Restaurant, two rounds of golf and dinner at the Princeton Golf Course, passes for the driving range at Doc's Golf, two rounds of golf, carts and take home souvenirs (hats, tees, etc.) from Skaha Meadows golf course, a large order of Dawn's delicious bread from Princeton Bakery, a big commercial bucket of ice cream, courtesy of The Hut, paintball games from Action Adventure in Penticton and many, many more exciting prizes thanks to the generosity of local and regional businesses.
The gala is a fundraiser to help outfit and furbish the new community theatre that is being built at Riverside Wellness Centre. Tickets are $50.00 and can be purchased at The Spotlight or News Leader offices. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Some lucky person will get to win two tickets. We will be selling chances to win two tickets to the gala in the foyer before and after the performances of Angels in Love. Tickets for this raffle may be purchased from members of the Princeton Performing Arts Society as well.
It promises to be a fun and entertaining evening that supports a good cause.
The gala dinner and dance is being organized and carried out by the Princeton Performing Arts Society under the leadership of Esther Donovan, and committee members; Barb Fraser, Sylvia Bailey, Annette Dixon, Josh Herzog, Susan Kerr Herzog.
To contact the Princeton Performing Arts Society, phone (250) 295-7927, or e-mail PrincetonPerformingArts@gmail.com or write PO Box 596, Princeton, B.C. V0X 1W0.
COMMITTEE SAYS THANK YOU
The Princeton Healthy Harvest Box Committee would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make the first Harvest Box distribution day a roaring success. Thank you also to our subscribers who demonstrated their faith in our project by prepaying as early as last March for the May distribution.
We would like to clarify that the content of all boxes was not the same, but that all had an equal value. We were not able to get everything that we ordered. Our supplier gave us the option of taking a cash credit on our order or accepting substitute high-quality organic produce.
We opted for the extra produce which was worth more than our cash credit would have been. This allowed us to pass that value on to our subscribers.
Originally we were going to have only 9 items in each box. In addition to those 9 original items, we also included organic oranges from California to make up for a smaller amount of red bell peppers than we had planned. The organic apples and pears we originally ordered were not available, and we had to substitute non-organic local apples and pears.
But to ensure that every box was extra rewarding, 1/3 of the boxes contained organic avocados, 1/3 of the boxes contained 1/2 lb organic asparagus from Keremeos, and 1/3 of the boxes contained organic sunchokes from Oliver. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the project coordinator at (250) 295-3941.
Thanks again to all who participated and we look forward to serving you again in June!
FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS YOU!
The Princeton Volunteer Fire Department is looking for a few good men...and women to become part of a hard-working group of volunteers with a long history in the Princeton area.
Fire Chief Eric Gregson says the department currently has eight openings for regular members (between the ages of 19 and 65) and also welcomes junior members - students still attending school between the ages of 16 and 18.
Gregson says applications are available at the Fire Hall located at 162-2nd Street Wednesdays between 6:30 and 7:30 PM. Interested residents can also pick up an application form at Town Hall during regular business hours or can leave a message at (250) 295-3325.
"If you are a business owner, a retiree, male or female with Class 5 Drivers License, you may qualify to become part of a team that works hard for the community."
Gregson says there are many perks including free training and insurance coverage.
The Fire Department is stepping up a recruitment program with advertising in print and radio and information booths at local events.
Gregson says the Fire Department will have a display table at the upcoming Airport Appreciation Day where interested residents can get more details on what is required to be a volunteer firefighter as well as the benefits of supporting local emergency services.
FLYING TEAM COMES TO TOWN
In 2007 members of the Fraser Blues Flying Demonstration Team arrived in Princeton to discuss the possibility of organizing a show for the Princeton Regional Airport. One year later the Airport Committee and Town of Princeton has invited them to do just that.
On Saturday June 7th come out to the Princeton Regional Airport to meet the pilots of the Fraser Blues and watch as the team takes to the air over Princeton for two spectacular shows. Not to be confused with the radio-controlled plane operators that put on an annual display in Princeton, these are the real thing the Fraser Blues team pilot four vintage WW II Navion aircraft.
Leading the team is retired Colonel George Miller who, today, is manager of the Langley airport. For more than 35 years he was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, flying F-86 Sabres and CF-104 Starfighters in Europe. He was with Canada's first military aerobatic team, the Golden Hawks and went on to become a team leader of the Canadian Snowbirds.
Flying in the number two position is Guy Miller from Abbotsford. Guy is a former CF-18 Hornet fighter pilot and instructor. He also piloted for Cathay Pacific Airways 747-400 lines and was a simulator instructor.
Clive Barratt flies in the number three position. With 65 different aircraft types flown, Clive is a former Canadian Forces instructor pilot, search and rescue pilot and accident investigator. Today, he flies for an airline and lives in Chilliwack.
Flying in the number four position is Gord Ball, from Abbotsford. Gord is a former CF-104 pilot and retired airline captain. During his career, he flew many aircraft including Huey helicopters, 737s, 727s, DC-8s and DC-10s.
In addition to the Fraser Blues at the air show on Saturday, the Canadian Air Force has confirmed that an F-18 Hornet fighter jet will be attending the air show as well. A versatile, world-class fighter aircraft, the supersonic CF-18 Hornet can engage both ground and aerial targets.
Its twin engines generate enough thrust to lift 24 full-size pick-up trucks off the ground. As the Canadian Air Force's frontline multi-role fighter, the CF-18 is used for air defence, air superiority, tactical support, training, aerobatic demonstration, and aerospace testing and evaluation.
Stop by to meet the Fraser Blues Pilots, watch the Canadian Air Force F-18 Hornet, enjoy a BBQ lunch donated by Billy's Restaurant, visit the weather station and enjoy children's activities throughout the day.
Fun, food, and entertainment for all ages is what you will find at this FREE community event hosted by the Town of Princeton. Gates off of Airport Road will open to the public at 10:30 AM.
