News Leader News
FIFTH KATIMAVIK YEAR BEGINS
Employers and billet parents joined in a warm welcome to Princeton for the newest group of Katimavik participants. Princeton has had the pleasure of welcoming Katimavik youth for the past four years, and an unprecedented fifth year is beginning. The reception was held at the Chamber of Commerce meeting room on October 3.
The eleven participants will work in schools, the museum, at the fairgrounds and will work on projects of the Vermilion Forks Field Naturalist Society. The young people reside in a large house.
Councillor Spencer Coyne, the only member of Council who attended, gave the official welcome to Princeton and presented each participant with a pen. Lori Thomas presented each with a Peter Pine pin.
The first big community project they will be involved in is the Halloween Spook House.
The youths come from many different locations in Canada and will reside in our community for three months before moving to a new location. At that time, Princeton will welcome the second of the three Katimavik contingents arriving during the coming year.
These are the members of the first Katimavik contingent:
Dominic Fournier from Moncton, New Brunswick; Shari Fauso from Dominion City, Manitoba; Chris Piché from Powell River, B.C.; Bruno Lavoie-Santerre from Baie Comeau, Quebec; Jean-Francois Morincy from Montreal, Quebec; Scott Gallant from Beamsville, Ontario; Brittany Nybo from Edmonton, Alberta; Stephanie Milliken from Sarnia, Ontario; Allison Wilkie from Calgary, Alberta; Caitlyn De Rose-Bell from Richmond Hill, Ontario and Chelsea Erickson from Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
HIGHWAYS LOOKS AT RIGHT TURN LANE
During the annual convention of the Union of BC Municipalities, members of Town Council spoke with Deputy Highways Minister Peter Milburn regarding a right turn lane on Highway 3 through the town, between the Burton Avenue access intersection and the Bridge Street intersection.Milburn agreed it should be looked at, but was looking for partnering in the costs.
At the October 3 Town Council meeting, John Babiak reminded Council that one lane providing access to the shopping mall has already been partnered at a cost of $125,000.
Discussions regarding improvements to Highway 5A did not promise much, as this stretch of highway is fifth on the priority list. Road condition will be addressed when other highway projects are done.
WHO HELPS WHEN PEOPLE LIVE ALONE?
Elderly people who live alone can be at risk. What happens if they fall down and cannot call for help? What happens if they become too ill to call? What happens if they have a stroke and cannot speak even if they can use the phone?
Past experience has taught us what happens. We know of elderly people who fell and lay for hours, sometimes more than a day, before help arrived.
We know of a stroke victim who lay on his bathroom floor for who knows how long before anybody came to help. We know of a person who lay sick in bed, too weak to get up for at least one day, before anyone came to her house.
In 1991, local residents formed Princeton Help Line Society. People living alone register with the society and receive a "friendly call" every day just to make sure they are well. If the person does not answer the call, the call is repeated in a few minutes, and if there is still no answer, somebody is sent to check on the person.
The Help Line Society does more than make calls. Members of the society offer comforts to those isolated from the community, and keep people in touch with the community.
For example, an elderly resident complained of being afraid to go outside in winter because the sidewalk to his door was not shoveled. This was taken care of the same day.
Society is in trouble
After 14 years of effective work, the Help Line Society has a big problem. There are not enough members to form a board of directors! Due to illness, and moving away from town, members have dropped out. The "friendly call" service is still in operation, and there is money in the bank, but the society is due for an annual general meeting, and needs members. If there are not enough members to form a quorum, the society will not be able to continue operation.Anyone who would like to see the society stay alive should call Ron Armstrong at 295-7158 or Dawn Johnson at 295-6063 and leave your name and phone number. You will be notified of the time and place of the meeting, and will be welcomed with open arms.
