FRIDAY
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JULY 19, 2013
Coun. Davis takes stock of empty buildings | Page 3
The heat of summer >
Cranbrook at Canadian Open Fastpitch Tourney | Page 9
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Vol. 61, Issue 140
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BARRY COULTER PHOTO
The Rosie Brown Band performed Wednesday night at the first of the Cranbrook Farmer’s Market Society’s Night Markets, held in Rotary Park. Crowds packed into the park to take in the event, which will be reprised August 14, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. In the meantime, the Saturday morning markets are also drawing great crowds. Check it out, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 10th Avenue by Rotary Park. Above, left to right: Paige Lennox, Cosima Wells, Janice Nicli, Shawna Plant and Heather Gemmell.
Eagles hand out thousands of dollars to local causes Thanks to its successful weekly bingo sessions, the Fraternal Order of Eagles has raised $75,000 for good causes
S A L LY M AC D O N A L D Townsman Staff
A local service club has been quietly raising tens of thousands of dollars and giving it away in the community. In the past year, from June 2012 to June 2013, the Fraternal Order of Eagles has donated a total of $75,225.30. The organization, with 111 members, donated $42,392 to community groups in Cranbrook and $18,060 to-
wards youth guidance. Another $4,198 went to sports projects, and the remainder to national and provincial agencies such as the Canadian Cancer Society, and the B.C. Children’s Hospital. This massive outpouring of support makes Cranbrook’s Aerie 3032 the largest donor in all of B.C., where there are 23 Aeries.
See EAGLES , Page 4
Play on, play on City of Cranbrook amends zoning to allow bingo charity games to continue A R N E P E T RYS H E N Townsman Staff
Council adopted a zoning amendment on Monday, July 15, that will make it easier for not-forprofits and the bingo hall to hold charity events. The amendment adds a few key uses to all P-2 Community Recreation zones in the city. The owners of the bingo hall, Baker Development Ltd, sent a letter to council in June asking for changes to the zoning bylaw, noting that the current bylaw is restrictive, allowing only community recreation use, a library, archive or art gallery, community theatre, tourist facility, or a cemetery and crematorium. In the letter Terry Segarty, president of the development company, suggests adding three more uses. The building was formerly used as a commercial bingo facility with a capacity of 500 people, but Segarty said attendance had declined with the proliferation of gaming sponsored by the B.C.L.C. In the
past year, not-for-profit charities have been using the property for bingo charity fundraisers four nights a week. The events are run by volunteers and money raised stays in the community, the letter said. Segarty said the amendments would allow the events to continue. The amendment adds group day care, community meeting facility, and public and social services to permitted uses. At the June 24 regular meeting, council gave first and second reading to the zoning amendment bylaw and referred it to the Advisory Planning Commission for recommendation, as well as the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for approval. The Advisory Planning Commission recommended adoption and the ministry approved it. Monday’s meeting also began with a public hearing on the matter to which no one spoke. Council passed the zoning amendment bylaw. The amendment applies to all P-2 zoned properties in the city.
Keep your old meter, for a fee Smart meter holdouts have other options but at a cost, Bennett says TOM FL E TCH ER Black Press
VICTORIA — People who insist on refusing new wireless electrical meters can keep their old mechanical meter as long as it lasts, if they pay a monthly fee, Energy Minister Bill Bennett announced Thursday. Customers can keep their mechanical meters until they break down, their Measurement Canada accuracy seal expires or the customer relocates, the ministry said in a statement. The mechanical meter option is added
Bill Bennett
to an earlier compromise with BC Hydro customers who still don’t have a digital smart meter, which transmits power consumption and status via radio signals. Customers can have a digital meter with its transmission function turned off, or keep their old meter, as long as they pay the cost of having the meter read manually.
See SMART , Page 4