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ARTS COUNCIL RETURNS EXECUTIVE
The annual general meeting of Princeton Community Arts Council was held July 6. Councillor Ray Jarvis conducted the election of officers. President Dawn Johnson, Vice-President Fred Leard, Secretary Cathie Orser and Treasurer Nick Mills were returned to office, with Directors Joan Kelly, Del Hall, Mary Bedford, Joseph Dubé, and Christine Simpson.
Following the Treasurer's report, there were many questions about ArtsNow, a project in which several Arts Council members are involved. Cathie Orser said some people believe ArtsNow is a second Arts Council, and a few are miffed that a second group has formed. Those involved in ArtsNow were quick to point out it is not an Arts Council, it is an ad hoc committee formed by the community to identify an arts project under the provincial government Legacy Now program.
Nick Mills explained that the Healthy Eating group will begin using the cultural centre to distribute food the day after the Arts Council lease is ended. He asked whether the Arts Council would consider leaving their tables for the use of the new group. Members agreed.
President Johnson congratulated member groups on excellent events during the year. She thanked the past executive for their assistance to her during the year, and special thanks to Joseph Dubé for his diligence in caring for the cultural centre.
There was a lot of discussion about relocating in September, and members have pinned their hopes on the Riverside wellness centre project. In the meantime, they have been inquiring about the availability of other premises on a rental basis as need arises.
Member groups have been asked to submit their reports in writing by the first of September, along with their applications for grants. The grants are available through the Town of Princeton and BC Arts Council. Princeton Community Arts Council submits a major report and application on behalf of member groups.
President Johnson suggested it is time for more frequent meetings of the Arts Council to maintain communication between groups and to share plans for future activities. Members agreed the third Wednesday of the month seems to suit everyone.
The next regular meeting will be held in September. Nick Mills stated member groups can pick up their grant application forms from him and leave their reports with him during weekdays at the museum.
PAINTBALL - MORE THAN A GAME
Did you know that 140 people were in town over Canada Day Weekend to participate in "Battle In The Wilderness 5" - a paintball scenario game?Spencer Coyne is the Event Coordinator and Spokesman for the Princeton Paintball Group - an informal gathering of friends who enjoy the sport.
"It's one of the fastest growing sports in North America. Over 9-million people played in the US last year alone - yet we¹re a relatively young sport," says Coyne.
The "Battle In The Wilderness" event, which took place off Snowpatch Road attracted people between the ages of 16 and 55 from all over the province. Coyne estimates each person would have spent around $200 in Princeton that weekend - or $28,000 pumped into the local economy as fast as you can fire off ten rounds of paintballs.
"A scenario game is where you are given missions and objectives and lasts more than an hour," Coyne explains.
So, for example, over the Canada Day Weekend two teams of 50 or more would be battling against each other to achieve objectives.
The missions could be to eliminate the oppositions General or capture and hold a specific position on the playing field. The mission could be to locate and return a cache from the field all while trying to capture the opposing teams flag - often the primary objective.
Coyne says these multiple objectives per game forces a lot of elements in play in order to win. These include teamwork and strategy.
"The strategy and tactics involved are a draw as many video gamers are also paintballers. There¹s a lot of overlap there."
Coyne, who has been a paintballer for close to ten years, was introduced to the sport by friends.
"I played one day and that was it, I was hooked."
New paintballers can get into the sport with as little as $200, which would cover the cost of a paintball gun (called a marker), mask and CO2 tank.
"Paintball is universal - the players police themselves - the rules are always the same."
The rules are all based on common sense and address safety issues.
Anyone can be a paintballer.
"Every walk of life can be a paintballer. A lot of people think it¹s a military type game but its more than that. It's a team game."
There are currently ten different commercial fields of play in the lower mainland with another five on Vancouver Island. Penticton, Westbank and Vernon each have one. The local field is a club-designed and operated field.
"It's a real stress reliever where you can clear your mind. It's that or get shot."
The Princeton Paintball Group has been together for close to six years and currently plays every Saturday at 10:00 AM at a location found at the Allenby turn-off. There are signs to direct you, or if you'd like to find out more give Spencer a call at (250) 295-3563.
Or visit their website at: www.freewebs.com/princetonpaintball or e-mail: princetonpaintball@yahoo.ca.
STRONG SALES ACTIVITY CONTINUES
The South Okanagan Real Estate Board (SOREB) reports that MLS sales increased by 8% to 238 units sold in June 2005 compared to 261 sold during the same period in 2004. The trend of increased sales continues from last month's record of 308 sales and April's 284 sales. These spring totals are the highest since 1993! The strong market activity continues, still buoyed up by the attractive mortgage rates and ever-rising property values in Vancouver and the lower mainland.In sales units, Osoyoos leads the way with a 36% increase, 64 units sold compared to 47 last June. Next, Summerland units sold are up by 35%, at 27 sales this month compared to 20 last June. Kaleden/Okanagan Falls sales units are up 25%, 20 sales compared to 16 last June. Penticton units sold total 102, which is down slightly -6% from 109 last June. Oliver sales units at month-end are down -12%, 21 sales the same as last June's 24. Naramata's sales units are down -28%, compared to 7 sales last year. In the Similkameen, Keremeos sales are up 17% with 20 units this June compared to 17 last year. Princeton shows an increase of 14% in units sold this month, compared to 21 in June 2004.
The Board Listing's total inventory decreased by -6%, for a total of 1,405 active listings, compared to 1,498 last June. Actual Listings taken in June 2005 are up 3%, 439 compared to 392 in May 2004.
Total Sales volume for the entire Board is up again by 31% at month-end, $66,477,979 compared to June 2004 at $50,481,835. The 2005 spring sales volume records have been surpassed every month since April. Year-to-date volume is also up 39%, totalling $333,805,074 this year compared to $238,993,453.
The South Okanagan Real Estate Board is comprised of 247 member REALTORS and 29 real estate offices in the southern interior of BC. For the most comprehensive source of all real estate listings, home buying and selling information, visit our national websites at: www.mls.ca and www.icx.ca under "Thompson/Okanagan". Our public website is available at: www.soreb.org All SOREB listings are published in our realtySEARCH magazine available at all real estate offices and various locations in South Okanagan/Similkameen communities.
