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SOCIETY REVIEWS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Similkameen Valley Planning Society hosted a public meeting last Wednesday night in Princeton Skills Centre. It attracted two people.
Regardless of the turn out, the SVPS had a lot of good things to say about itself.
Committee Chair George Hanson suggested the public meeting be turned into an information meeting for the purpose of sharing information. "In the past SVPS meetings we haven't had the time to bring each other up to date on individual districts initiatives."
Area H Director Gerri Logan started with a review of activities in her jurisdiction.
"There's been quite a few things going on," she said.
"We've submitted a grant application to LegaciesNow for a valley-wide literacy program which involves reading through music."
She also mentioned an RDOS endorsement of an Olympic LiveSites grant application and that she now sits on a 'working group' along with Princeton Mayor Randy McLean - regarding the Compliance Energy power generation project.
A meeting of that committee has already been held, but Logan and McLean were not invited to attend.
Keremeos Mayor Walter Despot took his reporting time and used it in a slightly different manner. He chose to emphasis the importance of the unification of the Similkameen Valley governing bodies.
"One of my objectives was to see valley unification in projects and concerns that affect the valley. I think we've come a long way on that. We're working as a valley now and I find that very reassuring, as we cannot survive alone."
Despot also reported on local initiatives including the skateboard park project and rails to trails development.
Councillor Jim Manion spoke on behalf of the Town of Princeton and echoed Despot's comments regarding the unification of the valley.
"It's a wonderful thing and it's because of this group."
Manion pointed to progress within the Tourist Advisory Committee as an example of working together and cooperation coming from both ends of the valley.
"The more information we know about each other the more people will travel back and forth and we're seeing that."
Manion views the sharing and cooperation between the governing bodies in the Similkameen as being significant.
"If the SVPS has done nothing else, this has been a wonderful thing."
Area G Director Joe Nitsch also continued with the same theme in his report.
"I see the SVPS as a group that seizes opportunities in the communities for the public good."
He cited tourism activity in Hedley and organic farming as highlights in his district and thinks an exploration of affordable housing opportunities in rural areas of the valley may be necessary.
Economic development was another issue of concern.
"Business and industry is like the stock market. They see opportunity and they're there."
Area B Director George Hanson described his district as containing mostly five-acre parcels of farmland.
"What I'm seeing is a lot of movement on those parcels with a lot of property selling due to the real estate market."
Hanson sees a need for a 'build your own estate' marketing plan and a possible need for an official community plan for Cawston.
"From all indications I see the community is saying 'yes we do.'"
He says the OCP would bring some organization to Cawston as well as a way for residents to control change to their community.
The Organic Farming Institute was also viewed as a highlight with fundraising going towards course development. The first course is to be offered this Fall.
The committee members agreed that having all governing bodies working together would benefit the Similkameen Valley far greater than working alone.
COUPLE PRESENTS PETITION
Dan and Kathleen Pippin attended the May 15 Town Council meeting with a petition against shooting homeless pets. Kathleen Pippin stated she had heard of the practice of shooting pets in the pound, and had drawn up the petition. She stood in front of the Post Office and secured pages of signatures in support of sending the animals to Penticton SPCA or having a veterinarian euthanize the unclaimed pets. She said she had consulted a local veterinarian and he told her it could be done for $20 per animal.
Mayor Randy McLean said he had checked past years and found few animals had been shot. He had attempted to confirm the cost of euthanizing the unwanted animals, but the veterinarian had been unable to give a price.
Mayor McLean said Council would be happy to adopt the procedures requested in the petition providing Penticton SPCA and the veterinarian would confirm, in writing, their willingness to cooperate at a reasonable cost to the Town.
GROUP NEEDED TO PLAN NEW LOCAL EVENT
Following the theme of 'Join Us In 2006' the Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion Foundation is preparing for their 4th annual event.Princeton has not participating in the program to date and Recreation Director Lyle Thomas thinks there may be some interest in hosting the June 11th event in Princeton.
"A local organizational team is needed to host this event," Thomas says.
Promotional material from the Wheels In Motion Foundation says people of all ages and abilities can wheel, run or walk to raise awareness and funds to make a difference in the lives of the many men, women and children with spinal cord injury (SCI) and related disabilities.
To date, over $3.6-million has been raised through Wheels In Motion.
Princeton has always had a dedicated group of supporters involved in the annual Terry Fox runs so it stands to reason there may be interest in bringing the annual Wheels In Motion program to the community.
Thomas is so certain this is the case that he has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, May 31st, starting at 7:00 PM in the Riverside Centre to see if others share his interest in the program.
"If you are interested, please attend the meeting."
To find out more about the Wheels In Motion event call the Rick Hansen Man In Motion Foundation at 1-866-60-WHEEL or visit www.rickhansen.com.
