News Leader News for October 30, 2007
CFC SUPPORTS RIVERSIDE EXPANSION
As one of the eleven local organizations that will be sharing in $295,000 in funding from the Princeton and District Community Forest Corporation this year, the Riverside Centre, with finalized blueprints, is forging ahead with plans to expand and convert the former gymnasium space into a multi-function performing arts centre in part with the $50,000 they've received from the Corporation.
"We are pleased that we could support Riverside Centre with their expansion project," said Corporation Chair Randy McLean.
"With events like last year's theatre production The Mouse Trap and Kelowna Ballet's visit, this facility will be well used. The concert society will also have a new home for the community's grand piano."
The Princeton and District Community Forest Corporation offers grants to recreational and cultural organizations to assist in their capital projects and operations.
The corporation receives Grant applications annually and organizations can apply for major funding
(>$5,000) or for minor funding (<$5,000).
The $295,000 funding disbursements represents grants for 2006/07.
Organizations are reminded that the forest corporation will be accepting grant applications for 2008 soon.
To be eligible for these grants, organizations must have the mandate to provide recreational and cultural services and/or facilities in Princeton or within Area
'H' of the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen.
JUDGE AWARDS GOOD SCORE TO FAIR
Every year, Princeton's Fall Fair is evaluated by a judge from the BC Fairs Association.
This year, a new scoring system was used. Fairs are now evaluated on the basis of strengths and weaknesses. Princeton's fair did well with a score of 81 out of 100.
Interviews with volunteers and the public were a new feature of the scoring system.
The judged interviewed three fairgoers selected at random. Although some weaknesses were identified, the three people said they would recommend the fair to friends and family and plan to attend next year. This is great news for the Fall Fair Association.
There were some important weaknesses identified by the judge. He thought the stage was unattractive and there was poor seating in front of it. Fall Fair and Princeton Exhibition Association have explored many ideas for a new stage in a new location, but the money has not been available. This judge was tough even on commercial displays, saying they did not have enough signs to identify who they were.
On the plus side, the following received top marks: 4-H dog and sheep show, chuckwagon races, Peruvian horses, equine massage, highway rescue demonstration, lawnmower races, light horses, needlecraft, flowers, vegetables and fruits, sewing, photography, hobbies and crafts.
The judge was surprised there were so few wine entries. For those of you who baked or put in canning entries, the judge was impressed with the baking and with the variety of canning. As with every judge, the quilt display earned special mention for excellence.
The gate crew drew special mention for good staffing, and the free parking was noted as a plus (many fairs charge for parking). The grounds themselves came in for praise and the false fronts were seen as an added attraction.
The judge's final remarks included this statement: "A pleasant country community fair with just about something for everyone."
AUTHOR MAKES PLEA TO SAVE HISTORY
Author: Blakeburn - B. C.'s Forgotten Ghost Town and Chairman of the Blakeburn Project
Once again, the beautiful and historically rich site of the Blakeburn ghost town is being razed by logging.
Located six miles west of Coalmont, 30-minutes north of Princeton, it has been gaining an increase in tourism, now Blakeburn is being ravaged by something other than Ma Nature.
As the custodian of Blakeburn's history, I receive many e-mails each week. The emotion in the e-mails over the last week is unmistakable.
For example, John Parsons writes, "...the logging company has been doing some slash burning last week (ground still smoking on the weekend) and they have burned one of the towers..." (See Page 2 of this week's News Leader for a photo).
Mike Roust adds, "...logging activities have closed some of the trails in the area...this entire system is now inaccessible. This logging upsets me on a few levels. I think it is very shortsighted to log in what I believe should be a historic area. I also think that the trails in that area are a real draw for motorized recreation. Limiting and destroying access to long established trails will end up creating conflict."
The affected area is, specifically, the Aerial Tram Line. Access from the trailhead at the 4.5-kilometre mark of the Blakeburn Road clear through to the Anchor Hill Trestle System.
Towers 11, 12 and 13 are gone!
The ATV and snowmobile trails are also gone!
Logging also razed a two square mile area of Blakeburn's Pig Alley and Tent Town subdivisions back in 2006.
At that time, steps were taken to prevent logging from returning to the old coal mining camp.
Regional District Area 'H' Director Gerri Logan and Upper Similkameen Indian Band representative Brenda Gould were given a copy of the Blakeburn Map.
No further permits were to be issued within the confines of the map's GPS grid.
The smouldering ruins of the historic tram line states the case better than my words, that promises mean nothing!
Only Official Historic Status can save what is left of Blakeburn.
For that matter, every historic location in the greater Princeton area.
