News Leader News for May 26, 2009
TOWN COUNCIL BRIEFS
A company called Jameson Resources is interested in buying coal property from Compliance. The property is located at Blakeburn, near Coalmont. Jameson Resources plans to export coal. If the deal goes through, it could mean 40 to 50 new jobs. Radio needs adults
Students from Princeton Secondary School have received grants to set up their student radio station. They are looking for adults who would be willing to volunteer their time to work with the students. Message board
A computer-controlled message board for downtown has met with approval from Princeton Performing Arts, who have donated $500 to the project.
The theatre group will give a bursary this year to a local grad planning to study dramatic arts.
Princeton Racing Days Association has added their $500 to the message board project. If they could use the board today, they would be telling local residents they need people with experience working in the parimutuels. If you can volunteer for this duty, please call John Bey or Carol Ruoss. Highland Dancers
Councillor Jason Earle praised Princeton's Highland Dancers who attended competitions held in Nelson. Every Princeton dancer placed. Deer count
The Ministry of Environment scheduled a deer count for last weekend to find out how many deer are in town. Fire protection
Persons noting forestry activity in the Snowpatch area will be pleased to learn this is part of the Wildfire Protection Plan. The work is taking place on private property and will clear out dead wood. Council discussed other areas where dead wood should be removed, such as on the slope between the arena and the high school. Affordable housing
Council will meet soon with Community Services Society to discuss options for affordable housing. Airport
Councillor Marilyn Harkness praised the work of the Airport Committee. She had toured the new fuelling facility and reception area. Plans are going ahead for a great celebration at the second annual Airport Day on July 18.
GARDEN NEEDS BEDS
The community garden under construction at John Allison Elementary School needs more raised beds for planting. Sonia Gronen and Glow Lemon attended the May 19 Town Council meeting to ask for assistance in the form of usable materials and/or money to construct more beds.
Fourteen planting beds have been built, but there is room for many more, and many more people from the community would like to have a garden bed. The original plan called for additional beds, but the community garden organizers ran out of money because the Board of Education insisted on chain link fencing eight feet high. The group had planned for less expensive fencing.
Ernie Lawrence, of Irly Bird Building Supplies, has been generous, but more help is needed. Gronen and Lemon asked Council if there were usable materials in the works yard that the garden group could access.
Council was sympathetic, but did not know what might be available. Council is also considering a grant. No promises were made, but the Town staff and the garden group will discuss what can be done.
COUNCIL APPROVES SOCIETY
The Princeton 150 Committee appointed by Town Council appealed to Council for support in becoming a society.
The aims and objectives of the society would be the same as Council approved when the committee was formed.
The committee found there are grants it can apply for if it is a society.
As an Ad Hoc committee of Council, it could not access the funding, and would be dependent on Council for funding. After some discussion, Council agreed to allow the committee to become a society.
The society will promote Princeton's 150th anniversary and invite citizens and their organizations to generate celebration projects and events, coordinate these activities, and assist in creating a lasting permanent legacy for the community.
PXA GOAL TAKES SHAPE
The fairgrounds are in good condition for the summer and fall. Approximately $70,000 was spent on improvements to power, water and sound systems, as well as repairs to buildings and installation of an in-house phone system. Princeton Exhibition Association President John Bey says the funds are depleted. He is looking for more sponsors and donations.
Bey's vision for the future of the fairgrounds is to turn it into an attractive recreational park that everybody can use and enjoy. The Exhibition Association, which manages the facility, has applied for a grant from Trees for Tomorrow to acquire and plant more trees.
The Brown Bridge Pub donated an ice machine for the beer garden, and sold the PXA a new oven at a low cost. The oven will help expand the menu of the concession.
There are a number of weekends still not booked for use this summer. Organizations planning an event, or families planning a reunion, can call Carol Ruoss at (250) 295-7891 to discuss rates. The rates are quite reasonable, and negotiable, depending on the needs of the user.
ARTS GROUPS ARE ACTIVE
The various groups belonging to Princeton and District Community Arts Council continue their high level of activity. On May 20, groups reported on past and future events. Museum
Nick Mills reported an outstanding beginning to the 2009 season. The number of visitors during the first week since opening on May 16 was double the usual number, dating back as far as 2003. The Museum Society has received three grants for student employment, and has hired two students to date. Garden Club
Princeton Garden Club members will be going to Summerland to the experimental farm to see flowers. They are purchasing a bench for the new park at the west end of Princeton, and will be giving a bursary to a student entering the field of horticulture or forestry. Vermilion Forks Field Naturalists
This busy group is learning about endangered species, and will be doing a butterfly field trip. In June, they will band hummingbirds, and an owl they rescued last winter has been rehabilitated and returned to its home location. Writers
Princeton Writers Group had a successful workshop, welcoming people from the South Okanagan Region. They meet twice a month and members do writing assignments regarded as "homework". They are considering a contest for student writers in the fall. Band
The community band will hold a concert June 8 at Riverside Centre. Admission is by donation. Concerts
Del Hall reported Kelowna Ballet would like to come back to Princeton again. She said they go only to communities where they have found an appreciative audience. Quilters
Bunchgrass Quilters have made 60 quilts for children in crisis, and are awaiting information about who will be in charge of Victim Assistance services, which is where the small quilts are given to children involved in crisis situations. Potters Princeton Potters Guild is busy every Tuesday afternoon, working on projects. Sue LePoidevin, a pottery instructor, is preparing for a pottery show in Victoria where she will show her work. Painters
Vermilion Artists had two very successful workshops this year, and is planning an outdoor workshop at a local ranch for the autumn. They are preparing for their annual art show to be held June 26-27. The student artist who received a bursary and a show, Dawn Campbell, will show her work on July 3-4. Actors
Princeton Performing Arts Society had 106 people at their gala night, where "Elvis" entertained, along with line dancers and some sketches done by their own actors. Preparations are underway for their talent show to be held July 11 (auditions July 10). In September, they will hold auditions for pantomimists, for a show to be held in December. They applied for, and received, a Community Forest grant for curtains for the theatre at Riverside Centre.
