News Leader News for August 14, 2007
PRINCETON FAMILY PLACE OPENS
The Princeton table of Communities for Kids and Princeton Childcare Services Society announced the official opening August 8th of Princeton Family Place.
The Family Place, located in Kenley Hall across from the Cenotaph, includes a family drop in/community kitchen facility. The family drop in for children 0 to 6 years and their parent/caregiver is held every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The drop in uses the community kitchen to prepare a nutritious snack each day and lunch one day a week. Future plans include using the Family Place to enhance present programs for families of young children and to provide new programs related to healthy eating.
The need for a centrally located family place was identified four years ago when Communities for Kids held two community forums in Princeton to discuss services and resources for children aged 0 to 6 and their families, and to establish a volunteer Princeton table. Participants wanted a place where children could informally socialize and parents could acquire knowledge and skills from one another and from childcare professionals.
Communities for Kids and Princeton Childcare Services Society have established a joint committee of volunteers to oversee the development of the Family Place. Penny Schreckenberg, program coordinator for Princeton Childcare Services Society, will supervise the Family Place and Renee Hartwell is the facilitator of the drop in program.
Communities for Kids and Princeton Childcare Services Society would like to thank everyone who has assisted in the creation of the Family Place. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the Town of Princeton for its generosity in Providing Kenley Hall as a home for the Family Place. Funding for the Family Place has included in kind donations from Town of Princeton, Princeton Childcare Services Society, School District #58, businesses and individuals and financial contributions from Princeton Rotary Club and the Princeton District Teachers Union.
Major grants were received from Communities for Kids/Success by Six, Community Action for Health, and the Union of BC Municipalities.
In addition, community volunteers have spent hundreds of hours renovating Kenley Hall including cleaning, painting, laying flooring and furnishing.
Communities for Kids and the Princeton Childcare Services Society are also appreciative of the many individuals and groups who have provided advice and encouragement for the past four years.
Communities for Kids Princeton Table and Princeton Childcare Services Society are proud to be part of such a caring community. Working together with a supportive Town Council and many others, we have been able to renovate a public building and to provide a needed resource to support our youngest citizens and their families.
For further information on the Family Place and/or to contribute ongoing support contact Susan Hamilton (295-7582) or Lorna Gregson (295-0110).
FAIR PLANS TAKE SHAPE
Months of planning are paying off for Princeton Fall Fair Association. The Board met August 7 to start fitting all of the parts together. Saturday of the fair features chuckwagon races which will go through Sunday morning. Then lawnmower races take over to entertain everyone until late afternoon.
Silver Cloud Peruvian horses will be part of special demonstrations and information. Silver Cloud is a new business in the local area.
Entertainment for the children this year includes a bounce castle, mini golf and an obstacle course throughout the weekend.
Sunday will include children's entertainer Matt Duffus who will present songs and sculptured balloons and other small gifts for the kids.
Entertainment for everyone will be provided in the concession area during and after the pancake breakfast. The evening will feature a band in the refreshment garden. Many of the entertainers are local people who are donating their talents to the event.
Vendor stalls are filling up. Look for the Food Security Program and the 100 Mile Challenge information. These booths will show a new trend in encouraging people to buy locally produced food. Rolly Bilodeau, of Cawston, is bringing his antique tractors for the second year.
The usual exhibits competitions will take place. Exhibits focus on local talent and productivity. Entries in vegetables, fruit, flowers, eggs, needlework, livestock, crafts and photography are always a big part of the fair.
Youngsters can show their talents in 4-H and Junior Fair. Exhibitors' prize list booklets will be available very soon. Entries will be taken from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM on the Thursday and Friday before the fair.
4-H Dog Club competitions will be held again this year, with members of the Penticton club bringing their dogs for the trials.
Bunchgrass Quilters is planning their annual quilt show at the fair. Their show has received top marks from B.C. Fairs judges year after year.
This year, the Fall Fair will be selling souvenir t-shirts for everyone. Look for them at the fair.
Admission to the fair is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, and children 12 and under pay no admission.
Jody Woodford is still looking for volunteers to man the admission gate.
PLANS COME UNDER REVIEW
Both the RDOS and the Town of Princeton have begun the process of comprehensive land use bylaw review that will involve the public.
The Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) and the Town of Princeton are concurrently reviewing and updating their existing land use bylaws. The rural Princeton bylaw review will be conducted under the direction of the RDOS, for all of Area H, excluding the Town of Princeton.
The Princeton Official Community Plan review will occur under the direction of the Town of Princeton, for the area within the municipal boundary.
The current Rural Land Use Bylaw (RLUB) for rural Princeton, which includes all of Electoral Area H, has been in place since 1998. The RLUB will be replaced with an Official Community Plan (OCP) and accompanying Zoning bylaws.
The rural Princeton bylaw review is meant to update the guiding land use policies in Electoral Area H. Specific policies that will be updated include, but are not limited to growth management, agriculture, large rural holdings, residential development, commercial, industrial, natural environment and servicing. As well, the review is meant to update the existing zoning designations and identify future growth areas.
The RDOS has assembled a nine-person review committee made up of representatives from all of Electoral Area H, including Eastgate, Tulameen, Princeton fringe, Borgeson Lake, Osprey Lake and Headwaters. Review committee meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month at the Princeton Town Hall, beginning at 7:00 PM and are open for public observation.
The Town of Princeton's current OCP was adopted in 1993, and will be updated over the coming year. The Town will be hosting their first public workshop for the new OCP on September 19, 2007 at 6:30 PM at the Community Skills Centre, 206 Vermilion Avenue. This session will provide the opportunity for residents to understand the importance of an OCP and share their ideas on land use policies related to topics such as future growth, and land use including: residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, parks and environmentally sensitive areas.
For more information on the RDOS rural Princeton bylaw review, contact Monty Horton, RDOS Planner at (250) 490-4204 or consult the RDOS website at http://www.rdos.bc.ca/index.php?id=510.
For additional information on the Town of Princeton OCP review, contact Patrick Robins, CAO at (250) 295-3135.
