SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME 65 - ISSUE
NO. 44 •
S U M M E R L A N D,
B.C. • T H U R S D AY,
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
NOVEMBER
1,
2012
•
20
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Tech business
A technology company which has worked on communications projects around the world has relocated to Summerland.
Page 7
Arrests were made in a gun smuggling operation with a Summerland connection.
Science evening
Children will get hands-on activities at a celebration of science next week.
Page 11
Polio initiative
The Summerland Rotary Club has been active in an ongoing initiative to eradicate polio.
A recent benefit concert raised $2,500 to help an orphanage in Nepal.
Page 15
YOUR SMILE I try to see the best in everyone. They, however, are trying to hide it from me.
$1.15
INCLUDING
HST
Fall Fair’s future unsure by John Arendt
Page 3
Benefit concert
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Board members needed if 103-year-old fair is to continue
Gun smuggling
Page 13
PA G E S
Presenting a poppy
John Arendt Summerland Review
Lt. Col. Harry Quarton presents a poppy to Mayor Janice Perrino. From now until Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, Canadians are wearing poppies as a way to remember and pay tribute to those who have been killed in wars.
Greyhound cuts won’t speed transit service by John Arendt
While Greyhound wants to cut its service in the South Okanagan, B.C. Transit is not rushing to replace the bus with a regional transit service. The municipality has been working to bring a regional service to the area for several years. Although Summerland now has transit bus shelters in place, nothing more than a rudimentary service is in place. “We have to learn more,”
Summerland Mayor Janice Perrino said. “We have to look at what the costs are.” Greyhound has announced it is cutting its service because of low ridership. Instead of offering four buses in each direction each day, the proposed cuts will bring the service to two buses each direction each day. Perrino said the low ridership should be a concern. “If Greyhound’s doing that badly, will it be that bad for B.C. Transit?” she asked. Greyhound uses 54-pas-
senger buses for all its routes, including the Summerland to Penticton route. The buses do not reach capacity. The least used of the buses averages 3.9 passengers. Perrino said a regional service must be planned carefully to ensure people will use it. She said potential passengers will not use a service if it is a significant inconvenience to them. “We need to have it at least four to six times a day,” she said.
Unless volunteers step forward to join the Summerland Fall Fair’s board of directors, the 103-year-old festival is in danger of folding. Connie Davis, past president of the fair, said there are just five people on the board. Ideally, the board would have 12 members, although it is possible to function with nine. “It’s rather discouraging,” Davis said. “We can’t proceed with just five directors.” When the fair is held on the second weekend of September, volunteers step forward to help out. The difficulty comes in the rest of the year, when planning and preparation work are required. For several years, the board has been losing members, although those who remained were willing to take on extra responsibilities. This year, Davis has said she will step down from the presidency, although she will remain on the board as the past president to assist the new president. Davis said new volunteers help to provide fresh ideas and fresh connections to the board. While a suggestion has been made to cancel the fair for one year, Davis said the board voted against such a move. In its history, the fair has been cancelled just once, during one of the world wars, she said. She believes cancelling the fair for now would result in it closing permanently. The board will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Fall Fair office on Kelly Avenue. At that meeting, the future of the fair will be determined, depending on whether volunteers have come forward to serve on the board. Board terms are for two years. The board meets once a month for an hour to an hour and a half. Members then have responsibilities between board meetings. Those interested in volunteering are asked to contact Davis at 250-494-1448.